Hero's niece brands art critic's jibes as bizarre

By Ellen Irvine | 16th November 2009

A Papamoa relative of Battle of Britain hero Sir Keith Park is baffled by criticism branding a new statue of him a "fascist icon".

A statue of Sir Keith, who led the Royal Air Force over London and the south east of England throughout the Battle of Britain, was unveiled in London's Trafalgar Square 11 days ago.

Leigh Park, the great-great niece of Sir Keith, helped lead the campaign for the statue, which stands on the Fourth Plinth.

But the memorial has attracted controversy since it has been unveiled, including comments by British art critic Jonathan Jones, who slammed the statue in his Guardian newspaper blog.

"It is singularly inappropriate because the size of the figure, combined with its military nature, evokes not The Few, but everything they were battling against," Jones wrote.

"It's a fascist icon up there, brooding over the heart of London."

Ms Park dismissed the criticism as a "strange comment".

"Wow, that's really bizarre considering obviously he was RAF and fighting against fascism.

"Trafalgar Square is the square in London that's designated for military figures ... all the different forces are represented.  This is the first time an RAF member has been represented.

"I find those sorts of comments absurd."

Some of the British art community were unhappy that a military figure, rather than a sculpture, had been placed on the Fourth Plinth, Ms Park said.

The statue has also attracted controversy over its design, with Auckland sculptor Roderick Burgess complaining he was dumped as the designer. Burgess has slammed the design of the statue, by Australian Les Johnson.

Ms Park said the project had been supported by the people that mattered most - the Battle of Britain veterans who had fought under Sir Keith.

"Over 20 Battle of Britain pilots in their 90s were there to help launch it. It had their seal of approval, and it's their approval I feel is most appropriate."

Ms Park, who was asked to help launch the project by Terry Smith, travelled to London to see the unveiling.

"It was amazing to be there. It's a site for a huge amount of controversy - we thought it was never going to happen.

"It was absolutely fantastic. It was exciting to be a part of it."

The statue will remain in place on the Fourth Plinth for six months.

A 3m-high permanent bronze statue will be unveiled on September 15 next year, the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, and will stand in Waterloo Place, off Pall Mall in central London, near New Zealand House.

Sir Keith has been credited with rescuing Britain from its darkest hour when he commanded the Royal Air Force squadrons that won the pivotal Battle of Britain against superior German forces during World War II, saving Britain from invasion.