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A new statue of Queen Elizabeth II was unveiled in Newcastle-under-Lyme today to mark the city's 850th anniversary, and unlike many other contemporary royal monuments, it actually bears a resemblance to the subject.
The statue, made of bronze and weighing one ton, is one and a half times its life size and sits just a few inches above ground level in the Queens Municipal Gardens.
The design of the monument, commissioned by Newcastle-under-Lyme City Council, is inspired by photographs of Her Majesty the Queen taken during her 800th anniversary visit to the city in 1973.
Funding for the project was provided by two main donors: JCB, the Staffordshire-based excavator manufacturer, and Capital&Centric, the developers leading the multi-million pound regeneration of Newcastle city centre, with each organization contributing half of the costs.
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: “This magnificent monument to the late Queen Elizabeth is unique to Newcastle-under-Lyme and inextricably linked to our history and the city's 850th anniversary celebrations.
A landmark statue of Queen Elizabeth II was unveiled in Newcastle-under-Lyme today to mark the city's 850th anniversary. The design of the monument is inspired by photographs of Her Majesty the Queen taken during her visit to the city in 1973, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary
Queen Elizabeth II visited Newcastle-under-Lyme on 25 May 1973. ON THE RIGHT Major, Councilor Reg Lane
The statue, made of bronze and weighing one tonne, is one and a half times its life size and sits just inches above ground level in the city's Queens Gardens
“It not only acknowledges our past links with the monarchy and contemporary celebration of Newcastle-under-Lyme's heritage, but also looks to the future.
“I like to think that by its 900th anniversary in 2073, this monument will have become a notable and much-loved part of the city's landscape, and the little children who are here today will tell their grandchildren how they were present at its unveiling.” .
JCB chairman Anthony Bamford added that “the late Queen visited Staffordshire many times during her reign and it is great to honor her in this way in our county.”
Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital&Centric, added: “Newcastle is experiencing a renaissance thanks to our plans to re-launch three city center sites.
“This memorial will be another reason to visit this place and will be a fitting way to commemorate the Queen's visit.”
Local sculptor Andy Edwards, known for his internationally acclaimed works, created the statue to reflect the Queen's appearance during her visit in 1973, complete with her hat, clothes and handbag.
The loss of Queen Elizabeth is still deeply felt across the country,” he said.
“This work of art was commissioned and designed to express the respect and affection in which she was held.”
Unlike the statue of Queen Victoria – Queen Elizabeth II's great-great-grandmother, which was unveiled in 1903 – the new memorial is designed to be accessible and interactive, reflecting the late monarch's public persona.
Council leader Simon Tagg said: “This is a great day for Newcastle. The turnout shows how much the Queen meant to the people here.
“We hope the two statues of our longest reigning monarchs in Queens Gardens will attract visitors to Newcastle.”
Mr Edwards is also known for creating the iconic Beatles statue in Liverpool and the sculpture of Stoke City legend Sir Stanley Matthews at the bet365 Stadium.
He drew inspiration for the statue of Queen Elizabeth from a photo taken during her visit to Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1973.
