A MONUMENT in honour of Bewdley’s most famous son and three-time Prime Minister was given a royal seal of approval today when it was finally unveiled in the town.

HRH The Duke of Gloucester unveiled the £150,000 bronze statue, created by sculptor Martin Jennings, outside the Guildhall this morning.

Dignitaries including members of the Baldwin family, Deputy Labour Leader and ex-Kidderminster schoolboy Tom Watson, Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier, the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire and all mayors from across the district joined councillors, school children and residents for the celebration.

 

(Sculptor Martin Jennings)

A fundraising campaign was launched by Bewdley Civic Society in 2016 and endorsed by current Prime Minister Theresa May, who agreed to be the statue’s patron.

The campaign was overseen by a committee including the Society’s president Mrs Beatrice Grant, who is the great granddaughter of Stanley Baldwin.

Richard Perrin, chairman of Bewdley Civic Society said: “This monument to undoubtedly the town’s most famous son is a little overdue.

“What matters though is we’ve done it! We are delighted to honour this great man here in the place of his birth.”

Mrs Grant said: “He was not only prime minister of Great Britain but also of an empire which stretched to all corners of the world. But it is this corner of England that he held so fondly in his heart.

“It is a fitting tribute to have the only statue of Baldwin here in Bewdley.”

Before unveiling the statue, HRH the Duke said: “To have a statue of a politician is fairly rare but to one who was greatly respected is even rarer so I’m delighted you should have in Bewdley your past prime minister and your hero.”

And Mark Garnier added: “This is long overdue and it is great we have now got this. Every town has their favourite son or daughter and it is great that Bewdley has this permanent memorial to him.

“The good news is this will now hopefully provide future generations here with the inspiration that they can go out and become prime minister.”

(Tom Watson and Mark Garnier)

West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson, whose mum still lives in Spennells in Kidderminster, said he had been invited to the event by Mark Garnier and also attended in his role as shadow culture secretary.

He said: “Bewdley has such a rich history. It is a jewel in the crown of Worcestershire so I didn’t want to miss the opportunity of what is a great heritage and civic event in a town I’ve got great affection for.

“Baldwin is a very interesting character in the history of the nation. A three time Prime Minister does deserve their own statue even though I would have probably politically disagreed with him on a lot of issues.”

But not everyone was in celebratory mood at the event as Wyre Forest Labour leader Nigel Knowles held a placard up which read: “Baldwin was a statue in the 1930s when he should have re-armed the UK and opposed the Nazis.”

 

(Councillor Nigel Knowles)