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Statues unveiled in Worcester

1st September 2016

Today, September 1 saw the unveiling of four new statues in Worcester in the City’s historic Cornmarket including two key figures from World War One, the Reverend Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, otherwise known as Woodbine Willie, and music hall star Vesta Tilley.

The other two statues included William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway and King Charles II. The statues were decided by a public vote, where people were asked to choose their favourites from a list of famous faces from Worcester's past.

Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy MC (27th June, 1883 to 8th March, 1929) was a Anglican priest and poet, who was nicknamed Woodbine Willie during World War I for giving Woodbine cigarettes, along with spiritual aid to injured and dying soldiers. He became the vicar of nearby St Paul's Church in 1914, before volunteering to support the armed forces during World War I. 

Matilda Alice Powles (13th May, 1864 to 16th September 1952) was an English music hall performer who adopted the stage name Vesta Tilley at the age of 11. Born in Commandery Street, Worcester in 1864, she became one of the most famous male impersonators of her era, achieving widespread fame in both Britain and the United States, before retiring in 1920. 

The County Council commissioned and funded the statues with Worcester City Council's Public Arts Panel and the unveiling marked the final stages of the £500,000 County Council revamp of the City’s historic Cornmarket.

The statues were produced by local company Planet Art, who worked with a number of local groups. These included: The Hive, Stanley Road Primary School, year 5 & 6 students and St Paul’s hostel, as well as traders around the Cornmarket together with St Martins Church.

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