Thursday, December 29, 2005

Wouldn't you like to meet him?




This photo is of the statue of Fenner Brockway, in Red Lion Square. Have you ever seen a statue of someone standing pigeon-toed? I have rarely seen a more realistic statue, and of a bloke that you would almost certainly want as your own grandad.

The story behind the man is exceptional. He started off as a conscientious objector in the carnage that was called the First World War - at a time when it was not at all easy to be one. He was one of the founding fathers of the Labour movement in the UK, but he was always too much his own man to serve long in a government.

What shows the mark of the man was that he abandoned pacificism for WWII, beleiving that fascism needed to be stopped at all costs. He died in 1988, just before his 100th birthday. Here is the Wikipedia article on him.

For me, he is always one of the most alive of the London statues.

posted by Ham at 00:06 -- Comments here: 3

Comments on "Wouldn't you like to meet him?"

 

Blogger Tomate Farcie said ... (20:31) : 

This is definitely an interesting fellow! I was just going through the posts on this blog: well done!

 

Blogger Cheltenhamdailyphoto said ... (19:45) : 

yes i'd love him to be my grandad, he looks so much fun!

 

Blogger Kate said ... (02:33) : 

Yes, I would like very much to have met him---a good mensch!

 

post a comment
Click for more recent posts Click for older posts

Name: Ham Location: London, United Kingdom View my complete profile