The unveiling of the Nelson Mandela Statue in Nelson Mandela Place marks the culmination of many years of work by the Scottish Nelson Mandela Memorial Foundation, and especially the chair, Brian Filling – also Honorary Consul to South Africa and vice-chair and project manager, Janis Carson.
We were joined at the unveiling event by Lord Provost Councillor Dr Jacqueline McLaren, Jeremiah Kingsley Mamabolo, High Commissioner of South Africa, singer Marah Louw and the sculptor of the wonderful statue, Alan B Herriot.
Just as it had 33 years ago to the day, when Nelson Mandela came to Glasgow to receive the Freedom of the 9 Cities, the heavens opened and the rain poured down. But the huge crowd was happy to brave the elements to witness this momentous moment as the gold cloth was pulled away and the statue, on its plinth of South African Granite, was revealed for all to see.
It now stands as a proud reminder of Glasgow and Scotland’s links with South Africa and the struggle against apartheid; and a monument to the significant importance of international solidarity.
Alan B Herriot’s work can be found at www.alanherriot.co.uk