Memorial day - 24

At very last after a five year struggle, this summer a statue of Nelson Mandela was unveiled in London.

It was originally proposed that the 9ft bronze figure by Ian Walters be placed outside the South African High Commission in Trafalgar Square, but Westminster Council refused to give planning permission. It also turned down the proposal by London's mayor, Ken Livingston, to have it placed outside the National Gallery. Finally they gave planning permission for it to be placed in the south west corner of Parliament Square.

Located within the shadow of Big Ben and across the road from Westminster Abbey, unfortunately it is lost in the myriad of other statues dotted around the green island, and cut off by the constant flow of traffic circulating around the square.

But this is not the first tribute to Nelson Mandela erected in London. A bronze bust by the same sculptor was placed on the Royal Festival Hall podium in 1985 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the ANC in 1982.

Unfortunately Ian Walters lost his battle with cancer on 3 August 2006. He had finished the 9-foot tall clay sculpture for the statue but did not live to see it cast in bronze.