Ever been underestimated? The statue of Clement Attlee commemorates a man often underestimated. Yet, he led Britain through massive post-war changes. Right here on the Mile End campus of Queen Mary University of London stands a bronze sculpture. It is a tribute to Clement Attlee.
This Clement Attlee Statue is not just a sculpture. It’s a reminder of a leader’s impact. Frank Forster created it in 1988. The Greater London Council commissioned it. Initially, the plan was to place it in Mile End Park.
However, the GLC was abolished. Tower Hamlets Council stepped in. They erected the Clement Attlee Statue outside Limehouse Public Library. This celebrated Attlee’s role as the MP for Limehouse. Harold Wilson unveiled it. He was the last living member of Attlee’s 1945-51 government.
Sadly, the Clement Attlee Statue fell into disrepair. It was vandalized and boarded up. In 2010, Queen Mary University of London offered it a new home. It was a permanent loan from Tower Hamlets Council. The statue was re-erected on the Mile End Road campus in 2011. This location has special significance. Attlee learned of his 1945 election victory nearby. He was at the People’s Palace.
Clement Attlee served as Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951. His government established the National Health Service. It expanded the Welfare State. Major industries were nationalized under Clement Attlee. He developed an independent nuclear deterrent. His government recognized the State of Israel. Also, he granted independence to India.
Before his political career, Clement Attlee was a barrister. He volunteered in the deprived East End. The poverty he witnessed profoundly affected him. He became Mayor of Stepney in 1919. In 1922, he was elected MP for Limehouse. By 1935, Clement Attlee became leader of the Labour Party. During World War II, he was Deputy Prime Minister. He served in Winston Churchill’s coalition government. In 1945, he defeated Churchill in the general election.
The Clement Attlee Statue stands at 2.1 meters tall. Attlee is depicted in a suit and spectacles. His left hand holds his suit lapel. His right hand holds a copy of the National Assistance Act 1948.
Critics have praised the Clement Attlee Statue. Charles Saumarez Smith called it a “convincing example of modern figurative sculpture.” Bridget Cherry and Charles O’Brien described it as “touchingly prosaic.”
The relocation of the Clement Attlee Statue cost money. Queen Mary University paid for everything. The restored statue was unveiled in 2011. Peter Mandelson performed the unveiling. He is the grandson of Herbert Morrison. Morrison was Attlee’s Deputy Prime Minister.
So, as you stand before the Clement Attlee Statue, remember a leader. He was a man of action, of quiet determination. He reshaped Britain. His legacy lives on in the NHS and the Welfare State. His statue stands as a testament to his enduring impact.