Park plan for war hero statue

PROPOSALS for a new memorial statue in South Shields honouring “The Forgotten Army’ and a local war hero have been lodged with council planning officials.

- CHRIS BINDING Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

South Tyneside Council’s development team has received an application for the installation of a new sculpture by renowned local artist Ray Lonsdale.

The moving artwork portrays Sunderland prisoner of war Len Gibson, who was held captive on the infamous Burma ‘Death’ Railway by Japanese forces. During his imprisonment, he was compelled to labour on the notorious Mergui Road and whilst detained, he constructed his own musical instrument and performed for fellow captives around a fire each evening.

Upon his return to Sunderland, he motivated thousands of young people, including his neighbour, Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. As a devoted supporter of cancer charity Daft as a Brush, Len sponsored one of the charity's ambulances, with pupils at his former school where he served as a music teacher designing the artwork for the vehicle and christening it ‘Len Guitar Gibson’.

Following his death in 2021 at the age of 101 the remarkable great-grandfather is due to be commemorated in statue form, with the artwork recently revealed on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, which signalled the conclusion of WWII after Japan's surrender.

‘The unveiling ceremony occurred at South Shields Town Hall in August and there are aspirations the sculpture can be positioned permanently in North Marine Park before the year’s end. The charity Daft as a Brush has formally applied to South Tyneside Council’s planning department for permission to erect a 2.7m high statue at the Grade II-listed North Marine Park.