East Suffolk Council
New statue celebrating Britten’s early life in Lowestoft
A new statue commemorating Lowestoft-born composer Benjamin Britten has been unveiled on the seafront, with the project supported by East Suffolk Council and local contractors.
The bronze sculpture of Britten as a Boy, which was unveiled by Sir John Rutter on 10 November, is located outside 21 Kirkley Cliff Gardens where Britten was born in 1913.
The site for the statue, within Lord Kitchener’s Garden, was gifted to the Britten as a Boy project committee by East Suffolk Council. Landscaping works, funded by the Council, were carried out in preparation for the installation of the statue by local contractor PJ Spillings, supported by Scrivens Construction Ltd who constructed the linking concrete footpath.
The statue was produced by Royal sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, secured through extensive fundraising from the Britten as a Boy committee, led by Ruth Wharrier and Zeb Soanes.
The Council’s Economic and Regeneration team supported the project from the concept development and design stage, through the planning consent process to construction and project delivery. East Suffolk Services Ltd provided a design and build service to deliver the biodiversity improvements through the development of a new shrub border on the site.
Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: “We are delighted to have supported the project committee to deliver this impressive statue which celebrates Benjamin Britten's childhood in Lowestoft and aims to inspire local young people now and in the future. We would like to thank PJ Spillings for their hard work to prepare the site in readiness for the statue, which is another welcome addition to the seafront.”
Ruth Wharrier, Chair of the Britten as a Boy statue committee said: “We are delighted that a maquette of the Britten as a Boy statue will be finding a home in the new Town Hall as part of the proud history of our town.
“The life size, bronze statue on Lowestoft seafront is the culmination of 3 years of community fundraising and we thank everyone who has supported and contributed.”
Information about Benjamin Britten’s childhood in Lowestoft, including an educational booklet and virtual walk, is available at www.brittenasaboy.com/education