Her Majesty The Queen to unveil iconic statue in Canterbury city centre

Her Majesty The Queen will visit Canterbury in Kent today (Tuesday 25 February) to unveil a statue of the first full-time professional woman writer in the English language, Aphra Behn.

Her Majesty will then visit The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge and Canterbury Library to help celebrate the city’s passion for heritage and literature.

The statue has been given to Canterbury City Council, and therefore to the city, by the Canterbury Commemoration Society.

Its Chair, Stewart Ross, said: “We’re very excited to be able to welcome Her Majesty to our wonderful city in the heart of the garden of England.

“The A is for Aphra campaign started five years ago when members of the community began asking why one of Canterbury’s most famous literary heroes was not celebrated in the city where she grew up.

“The campaign group joined forces with the Canterbury Commemoration Society to celebrate Aphra and to raise the statue back in the same streets Aphra knew as a child.

“Over the course of the campaign, many people from the community have worked tirelessly to raise awareness and funds for a sculpture to be placed in the city.

“This included an academic conference at the University of Kent, a revival of Behn’s play The Amorous Prince by the Canterbury Players and a public exhibition about Behn at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge last year.

“Canterbury City Council’s successful Levelling Up Fund bid was able to support this project and The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge was chosen as a location that highlights the city’s passion for heritage and literature.”

Aphra (1640–1689) was baptised in Harbledown, just outside Canterbury, and spent her formative years in the city during the English Civil War.

The creation of the bronze statue by sculptor Christine Charlesworth followed an extensive period of research, consultation and fundraising.

After an international design competition, four shortlisted maquettes were toured across the UK and the public asked which they thought would be the most fitting memorial.

The design by Christine Charlesworth won the public vote.

The winning design presents a 17-year-old Aphra, book in hand and theatrical mask behind her back, looking wistfully about her as she sets out for London with her family.

After the unveiling, Her Majesty will be treated to a tour around The Beaney, one of Canterbury City Council’s museums, and Canterbury Library which is run by Kent County Council (KCC).

The city council’s Head of Culture, Leisure and External Development Michelle Moubarak said: “The Beaney is home to the museum collection, art galleries, the city’s visitor information centre, the library and registration services.

“It underwent an extensive renovation in 2012 to enable more people to enjoy it especially among those who have been underrepresented in the past.

“Since its transformation, it has attracted 3.5million visitors including almost 50,000 schoolchildren, seen more than 7,000 people take part in health and wellbeing activities and has benefited from 360 volunteers giving up 12,245 hours of their time.”

KCC’s Head of Libraries, Registration and Archives James Pearson said: “Canterbury Library stands as one of our most popular libraries in the county.

“It is a cherished cornerstone of the community offering a warm and welcoming environment for people to sit, relax, read and learn.

“It currently houses 50,215 books and continues to expand including a Home Library Service with dedicated volunteers delivering books to those in need that are unable to access our physical or mobile library network.

“The service has recently introduced a collection of books in Ukrainian to support those who have temporarily relocated to Canterbury at such a difficult time for Ukraine.

“There is a dedicated community hub for reading groups, Talk Time sessions and literacy groups.

“The local studies collection boasts a wealth of materials, ranging from maps to books of local interest.

“Among these treasures is our oldest book, Somner’s Antiquities of Canterbury, published in 1640.

“The modern Canterbury Library continues to evolve in step with the ever changing and diverse needs of the community – forever fostering a love for reading, community, connection to others, inclusivity and lifelong learning. It is a place where everyone is truly welcome.”

The Queen’s visit, which will celebrate the work both councils undertake around health and wellbeing, will include:

• an Aphra Behn workshop with Year 3 children from St Peter’s Primary School
• a look around the library with a focus on community engagement, volunteering, its collection of literature from Ukraine, its Book Club and Reading Well group
• a look around The Beaney’s Curious Stories exhibition and the different ways of experiencing it with the Sensing Culture visually impaired group and their assistance dogs and the Power of the Object group which supports people living with dementia and their carers
• a performance of an excerpt from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Behn’s play The Rover directed by Loveday Ingram
• a reading by Pilgrims Way Primary School pupil Ahmad Raza of his poem All About Me which won the five to eight-year-old category in the Canterbury Festival’s Poet of The Year competition
• a reading by St Anselm’s School pupil Emily Corbett of her poem Counting Stars which won the nine to 11-year-old category in the same competition
• a reading of a Behn poem by Gyles Brandreth, President of the Aphra Behn Society of Canterbury

Her Majesty will also be invited to view the first edition of Behn’s novel Oroonoko and meet its donor, Anna Astin, before signing the visitors’ book at the end of the visit.

Music for the statue unveiling will be provided by the 2nd Whitstable Sea Scout Band, led by Bandmaster Mark Wilkins.

Published: 25 February 2025