06 October 2011
HRH The Duke of Gloucester unveils Plumber’s Apprentice at
Cannon Street Station
HRH The Duke of Gloucester has unveiled Martin Jennings’
sculpture of the Plumber’s Apprentice at Cannon Street Station to
celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Worshipful Company of
Plumbers receiving its Royal Charter from King James I in 1611.
The seven-foot tall bronze statue signifies the industry’s long
association with London and the company’s ongoing commitment to
training young plumbers. The work also represents the important
role played by all the professional trades in the development of
the city.
The Duke of Gloucester unveiled the statue in the presence of
the Lord Mayor Michael Bear and the Lady Mayoress, herself a
sculptress and liverymen of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers.
Cannon Street Station was the site of the Worshipful Company’s
livery hall until 1863 when it was compulsorily purchased to make
way for the expansion of the station. The Company’s previous hall
was destroyed in the Great Fire of London and was rebuilt at Cannon
Street in 1690.
Network Rail gave permission for the installation of the statue
as part of the redevelopment of Cannon Street Station. A
commemorative plaque recently unveiled close by to the statue also
acknowledges the site of the former Plumber’s Hall.
Sculptor Martin Jennings also created the iconic statue of
British poet Sir John Betjeman that graces St Pancras Station, and
his statue of Philip Larkin was erected in the city of Hull in
2010. Jennings won the commission following a competition and his
design was recognised as a highly appropriate representation of
such a proud, practical trade.
The unveiling has coincided with London hosting the 2011
WorldSkills competition, where plumbing is represented alongside
other trades as a showcase for the importance of apprenticeships.
“The current controversy over university fees and the desperate
shortage of suitably skilled and competent trades people point
towards vocational qualifications playing an increasingly important
role, said Chris Sneath, Master of the Worshipful Company of
Plumbers.
“While we have a long history, having been formed in 1365,
current liverymen are focused on securing the future of our
profession. Therefore the statue is as much as about promoting
plumbing as a worthy career for young people as it is about marking
our ancient connections with the City of London,” said Sneath.
The 400th anniversary celebrations have also included a
reception at the House of Lords hosted by Baroness Sharp of
Guildford and a service by the Bishop of London at the Church of St
Magnus the Martyr in Lower Thames Street where the Bishop of London
rededicated the original 400-year-old Royal Charter granted to the
Company by King James I on 12 April 1611.
The plinth for the three-quarter ton statue, a substantial piece
of engraved slate, has been fitted into the concourse of Cannon
Street Station by one of the main subcontractors for the
redevelopment, Spence Re-Fit Limited.
Ends
Media enquiries
Andrew Brister
andrewbrister@ymail.com
Email Tel 07879 435996
For more information about The Worshipful Company of Plumbers
contact:
The Clerk
clerk@plumberscompany.org.uk
Email Tel 020 7796 2468
Website www.plumberscompany.org.uk