Sculptor Chosen

Following a competition, sculptor Denise Dutton from Leak in Staffordshire has been appointed to make the initial bronze maquette of Mary Clarke and then, provided the funding can be secured, to make the statue. Denise has worked on numerous commissions both public and private over the past 24 years. Her works include: the suffragette Annie Kenney, unveiled in December 2018 in Oldham;  the Land Girl’s and Lumber Jill’s memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, unveiled in 2014; and a life size equestrian statue of the last Maharajah of India, Duleep Singh. Interestingly, the Maharajah’s daughter Sophia went to school in Hove, cared for Sikh troops in the Royal Pavilion hospital during the First World War and became active as a suffragette in London.

Date for Diaries - Liane Carroll & Claire Martin Concert 7.00pm 4th March 2020

Jazz legends Claire Martin and Liane Carroll have offered a benefit concert with bar on the evening of 4th March 2020 at St George’s Church, St Georges Road, Kemptown. 'Double Standards' - an evening of jazz and joy! will include songs by Waits, Mitchell and Bennett skilfully mixed with stylish re-workings of lesser known classics and new original material. Join these two friends for some seriously swinging music. Not to be missed! There will also be local support acts and a chance to find out more about the work of the Appeal. Performance will be from 7.00-9.00pm. Doors and the bar will be open 6.30 - 10.00pm. Tickets will be on sale through Eventbrite. 

A Song for Mary

Jude Winter from Brighton’s feminist post punk band Siren has written a new “Song for Mary” https://youtu.be/DE5my8DFw2E honouring Mary Clarke. Jude, Deb Trethewey & Emilia Ballardini recorded it and it went live on 12th December, which was Mary’s birthday - as well as being General Election Day. The first live performance will be at the above mentioned Concert on 4th March 2020 'Double Standards' - an evening of jazz and joy! Our grateful thanks to Jude, Debs and Elicia - and to Siren.

Tracey Allen

Website and Social Media

A generous anonymous donation has helped us to create a new website and start to develop our social media presence. Please keep an eye on the website and send us news or comments. Help us get out our message by publicising the information on the website and following us on Facebook and Twitter. ‘Like’ us or retweet whenever and as often as you can! With the help of SeaPR we will launch a short fundraising film in the new year.

If you can help with social media please let us know. Please follow us on our website maryclarkestatue.com; on twitter @mary_statue; and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryClarkeStatue

Thanks for Donations and Current Target

We thank all our donors large and small for helping us meet start-up expenses and the cost of the maquette. We particularly thank Brighton & Hove City Council for its grant of £10,000. Also Michael and Maureen Chowen, Gamal Khalil and Selits Limited for their generous donations, as well as Edward Harte Solicitors  and many others.

The task for the year ahead is to raise £60,000 for the costs of the statue itself. 

Please note we now have charity registration as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) number 1185845.