Bishop Debbie helps unveil new statue of Queen Elizabeth II

On Sunday 21 April Bishop Debbie, along with Lord-Lieutenant Dr Sarah Furness and Alicia Kearns MP unveiled a new statue of Queen Elizabeth II, the first to be commissioned since her death.

This permanent memorial to Britain’s much loved and longest reigning monarch was commissioned by the Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr Sarah Furness, in response to the depth of loss felt in Rutland on the late Queen’s death. Donations quickly raised the required funds demonstrating strong local support for this project from a community with a tradition of service, volunteering, and admiration for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Local businesses donated but most of the funds came from ordinary individuals.

The Lord-Lieutenant’s ambitious aim to have the statue unveiled on what would have been the late Queen’s birthday, makes this the first statue of HM Queen Elizabeth II to be erected which was commissioned after her death. Situated near the library in Oakham, it is free to access and provides a central meeting place for residents and visitors to connect. 

The statue was created by well-respected sculptor Hywel Pratley who has connections to the local area and is a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors. The statue was made using local materials and businesses where possible to minimise environmental impact and costs. Mounted on local Ancaster limestone, the bronze statue was cast at the local Le Blanc foundry in Melton Mowbray and installed with the help of local construction company Smithers Purslow.

The statue incorporates a fun element with a Corgi peeking out from the Queen’s robes and another two at ground level in front of the plinth. To celebrate the Queen’s love of the dogs, the unveiling was attended by more than 40 members of the Welsh Corgi League, who all were heard barking their approval!