“It would take approximately eight weeks to make a statue, so in that time there’s plenty of chance for people to watch the sculpture actually being made and plenty of time to find a prominent site”
A campaign has been launched to install a statue of Captain Sir Tom Moore at the Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square.
A statue of Captain Tom was commissioned by Garry McBride, of Monumental Icons in July 2020.
Now McBride wants to commission another sculpture to sit on the Fourth Plinth at Trafalgar Square.
We believe that a legacy like that of @captaintommoore can inspire future generations to stand up and be counted when they’re needed.
A statue to serve as a reminder of his inspirational journey is a fitting way to preserve that legacy. #CaptainTomStatue
RT to show support! pic.twitter.com/zdtvSClQ1x
— Monumental Icons (@IconsMonumental) February 3, 2021
“It doesn’t matter how old somebody is, when they pass away it’s always extremely sad and upsetting,” McBride told the Press Association.
“He was a beacon of light in our darkest times and I think he’ll be missed by a lot of people because during last year’s lockdown every single television programme, radio show and national newspaper mentioned Captain Sir Tom.”
McBride thinks that Trafalgar Square would be a fitting location for the statue.
“It would take approximately eight weeks to make a statue, so in that time there’s plenty of chance for people to watch the sculpture actually being made and plenty of time to find a prominent site – and I think it needs to be a prominent site. The Fourth Plinth, for instance, would be absolutely perfect.”
The Fourth Plinth at Trafalgar Square was originally meant to be home to a statue of William IV, but the piece was never installed due to a lack of funds. For over 150 years, it lay empty, but since 1998 it has been home to a rotating selection of temporary artworks.
As of 2003, the commissions are decided by the Mayor of London’s office.
Boris Johnson recently offered his support to Captain Sir Tom Moore receiving a statue.
“On the issue of a statue for Captain Tom Moore, a public memorial of some kind to Captain Tom, I’m absolutely of course open to that,” said Johnson, when asked by the Daily Mail at a Downing Street news conference.
“I know that that’s the kind of thing that people would want to support and we’ll be working with his family to see what they feel is most appropriate and be taking that forward.”
