St George’s Hall is set to make history by erecting its first ever statue of a black woman.
To mark International Women’s Day, the St George’s Hall Charitable Trust announced their campaign to install a statue of Mary Seacole in the Great Hall.
The statue will be the second female represented in St George’s Hall, but the first woman from the black community. The first female statue was of pioneering health campaigner Kitty Wilkinson, which was installed in 2012. The Mary Seacole statue will join the 13 other statues currently in the Great Hall.
Mary Jane Seacole was a health pioneer in the 19th century whose influence spanned from nursing to business.
She was voted the greatest Black Briton in 2004 and has been remembered for her determination, bravery and compassion as a nurse during the Crimean War.
The trust believes this statue will not only pay a tribute to the heroine, but also thank our NHS and health practitioners for the work they do every day.
The Mary Seacole House is a mental health charity that was primarily established to assist people from black and ethnic minorities in Liverpool but now works with all members of the community.
Charity operations manager, Reihana Bashir, said of Mary Seacole: “When she went to the Crimean War, she didn’t sit and wait for the British side of the army, she actually healed and helped both sides and didn’t discriminate at all.”
“I think she was one of the first predominant black people who was already looking at equality regardless of where people were coming from. That’s what it was for us as well. We work with people regardless of who they are and where they come from.”
Listen to our interview with Mary Seacole House operations manager, Reihana Bashir>>>