Plinth 'should honour hero who led Battle of Britain'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Terry Smith is willing to invest more than £100,000 on a bronze statue of former air chief marshal Sir Keith Park, a New Zealander credited with masterminding the RAF's defence of the UK, who died in 1975.

He believes this would be a better use of the plinth than the rolling commission of modern art overseen by Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Mr Smith, chief executive of City trading house Tullett Prebon, has commissioned New Zealand sculptor Roderick Burgess to create a bronze statue of Sir Keith standing up to 12ft high.

Sir Keith was said by Sir Douglas Bader to have borne the "awesome responsibility" for ensuring Britain's survival against German planes, while Lord Tedder, as marshal of the RAF, said of him: "If any man won the Battle of Britain, he did."

Mr Smith said a model of Sir Keith would fit in well alongside other military heroes in the square, such as Nelson, Havelock and Napier. He added: "It is unbelievable that there is no recognition of a man who made such a massive contribution to Britain's defence."

Tory London Assembly member Angie Bray, who is quizzing the Mayor over the cost of the fourth plinth art scheme, said: "It's time we had something substantial and significant.

"It's a square where we should recognise our service heroes. The RAF is the only one that is woefully missing and it's of particular significance for London because we wouldn't all be here if it wasn't for people like Keith Park."

At present, the plinth is occupied by Model For A Hotel by German artist Thomas Sch¸tte. This replaced Alison Lapper Pregnant by Marc Quinn and is expected to be in place for around 18 months.

A consultation on six shortlisted replacements, including proposed works by Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley and Anish Kapoor, will be concluded next month.

Emin wants to place statues of meerkats on the plinth to symbolise "unity and safety", while Gormley would invite members of the public to stand on it for an hour each.