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Sister Publications
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East Budleigh welcomes
Sir Walter homeEAST
Budleigh’s most famous son was given a right royal welcome when he finally
came home, more than 400 years after leaving.
Villagers young and old were
out in force to witness the unveiling of the long-awaited Sir Walter Raleigh statue.
Some said it was a day they would never forget.
HRH the Duke of Kent, who
was given the honour of unveiling sculptress Vivien Mallock’s bronze statue,
congratulated the village on its persistence and determination to bring Sir Walter
home.
He told the crowd: “It’s quite a success story. You weren’t
prepared to be defeated and you got your own statue. I am very proud to unveil
it.”
The day started with excited anticipation as a crowd gathered
outside All Saints Church in readiness for the Duke’s arrival.
The
royal party, accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, attended a short church
service, led by Reverend Janice Cackett, where hymns and prayers were said. The
youngsters from Drake’s Primary School performed a hymn, I’m Special,
for the Duke.
Following the service, the Duke led the way to the top of
the village to unveil the statue of Sir Walter, which for days had been shielded
from the public.
Jim Nalder, 83, of Chichester Way, East Budleigh, said:
“It’s good that he’s come home. When Sir Walter Raleigh was rich
and famous he wanted to buy his birthplace but it belonged to another family and
they wouldn’t sell it to him. It’s nice that he’s come back after
400 years.”
Marion Nalder, 71, also of Chichester Way, said: “We
have wanted a statue here for a long time. We often get American visitors here
asking where his birthplace is.”
Carron Saunders, Drakes School headteacher,
said: “The Duke of Kent commented on how lovely the children had sung. He
said how nice it was that the school from the village had been so involved in
the occasion.”
The unveiling ceremony marks the end of East Devon
MP Hugo Swire’s quest to acknowledge the birthplace of the famous explorer,
a challenge he took over from his predecessor Sir Peter Emery. Mr Swire controversially
secured funding for the statue from British American Tobacco, which was opposed
by anti-smoking groups.
Mr Swire said: “I am pleased it’s here. It’s
been like giving birth only with a much longer gestation period!”
Hampshire
sculptress Vivien Mallock, who produced the new statue, which was mounted onto
a plinth made from stone from a local quarry at Stoneycombe, said: “I am
relieved it’s all over. The hardest part was the research of his clothing
and what he would have looked like. I wanted to get it right.” Browse and order more photos from this historic East Budleigh
event! >> |
History:
Sir Walter RaleighSIR WALTER Raleigh was one of the most enigmatic
figures of England’s golden age. Soldier, poet, philanderer, philosopher,
explorer, adventurer, conspirator; take your pick – he was one of the Renaissance’s
larger than life characters – but he certainly did more than introduce Britain
to the potato and pipe smoking. |
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