The week of the 6th of March, saw the early construction of the foundations for the memorial. Organised by our principal contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine, the site at Nelson Mandela Place was carefully excavated. The benches currently in that location were removed and taken into storage to be reinstated after the erection of the statue.
The Foundations: Ground-breaking
A short groundbreaking ceremony was held with an opportunity for our Chairman, Brian Filling, to mark the beginning of this important construction phase.
The Project Programme
The foundations are comprised of a significant volume of concrete circa 1.5 m deep. A small cavity has been created for the interment of a time capsule. The footpath has been reinstated over the concrete foundations.
In September the foundation will be revealed once more and the time capsule which will have been filled with artefacts and artwork selected and created by Glasgow school children will be buried at the site. We will involve the school pupils in celebrating this important contribution. The Granite plinth and bronze statue will be put in situ approximately a week before the unveiling ceremony which is anticipated to be the 9th of October 2026.
The plinth and statue will be boxed in and hidden from view until the day of the unveiling ceremony.
What’s Next?
Meanwhile elsewhere in the project plan, we are making great progress and indeed are ahead of schedule. The clay sculpture created by our artist, Alan B Herriot, has been finalised and is now at Powderhall Bronze foundry at the beginning of the mould making process prior to it being cast in bronze.
The granite block, having been transported from South Africa, is in situ with the company Leith’s Natural Stone (formerly Fyfe Glenrock) in Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire. The technical specifications for the plinth have been finalised ready for work to begin in forming the base stone for the bronze.
Further updates will follow over the spring and summer months via this website.
Contact Us
Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation
https://mandelascottish memorial.org/
Chair: Brian Filling b.filling@btinternet.com
Vice Chair & Project Manager: Janis Carson jmgcarson@gmail.com
Secretary: John Nelson Johnnelson48@yahoo.co.uk
Board Members: Suzanne Bonnar, Claire Dunphy ,Debbie Gillespie David Kenvyn Brian Purdie Lorraine Purdie Isobel Tait
More Information on be found here: Alan B Herriot’s work can www.alanherriot.co.uk