Seven years after the unveiling of a statue that is now a famous London landmark, the Mary Seacole Trust (MST) is launching a major fundraising campaign.
MST has joined forces with the Mary Seacole Memorial Association to raise funds for essential work on Mary’s magnificent statue, memorial plaque, and the upkeep of her grave in Northwest London.
The statue was unveiled by Baroness Floella Benjamin on 30 June 2016 in the grounds of St Thomas’ Hospital on London’s South Bank, following a 12 year campaign led my Lord Soley and Dame Elizabeth Anionwu.
MST Chair Trevor Sterling said: “Mary’s statue was funded by donations from the community, large and small. Now we need to return to our supporters to ask for their help again in ensuring that Mary’s legacy endures. The statue, her grave and a plaque dedicated to health workers caught up in conflict all need repair and renovation and we are confid
ent that the growing number of people who recognise Mary’s contribution to modern society will want to support that campaign.
“Ask anyone who is Britain’s most iconic Black historical figure and you will probably get the answer “Mary Seacole”. Yet Mary, a nurse who cared for soldiers in the Crimean war nearly 150 years ago, was lost from history for nearly 100 years. Like so many Black people who have contributed to our society, Mary was forgotten. That is until Connie Marks MBE and a number of other women of Caribbean heritage discovered her grave and inspired others to bring Mary’s story to life. Today, Mary is a celebrity and her place in history is at long last recognised.
“In the few years since the statue unveiling, it has become an important London landmark, an attraction for young diverse visitors from various social and racial backgrounds, to discover a brilliant role model, an important sculpture that draws on the story of a 19th century heroine to make a statement about the sort of society Britain is trying to become. Mary is truly a woman of the people – her statue came about because of donations large and small, many from individuals craving a landmark that represents Britain’s diversity.
“Mary is more important today than ever. As we tackle racism in society and encourage those who promote diversity, it is important that Mary remains a focus for that work and an inspiration for coming generations of young people. “
Mary’s grave in Northwest London is cared for by volunteers from the Mary Seacole Memorial Association.
To mark the anniversary, MST has launched several short videos about the unveiling and the fundraising campaign. Go to: https://www.maryseacoletrust.org.uk/memorials/
