Statue of peace campaigner Brian Haw unveiled

A statue of bid campaigner Brian Haw has been unveiled successful London.

Mr Haw camped retired successful Parliament Square for astir 10 years to protestation against UK and US overseas policy. He was removed soon earlier his decease successful 2011 aged 62.

The statue was unveiled facing the Imperial War Museum successful Lambeth by 3 of his children connected Sunday.

Actor Sir Mark Rylance, who campaigned for the statue, admired Mr Haw and said helium was inspired by his "bright consciousness of conscience". "His large telephone was to halt sidesplitting the children," said Sir Mark, who is simply a patron of the Stop the War coalition.

The histrion added: "No substance what struggle we person arsenic adults, they didn't make that struggle and we should find a peaceful mode of resolving the conflict."

After moving from Redditch successful Worcestershire, Mr Haw spent astir a decennary successful Parliament Square surrounded by anti-war placards. He bellowed done his megaphone astatine politicians heading into enactment and became intimately associated with dissent against the wars successful some Afghanistan and Iraq.

The 72cm bronze statue, sculpted by creator Amanda Ward, sits astatine the School of Historical Dress conscionable extracurricular the one-mile radius exclusion portion of Parliament created successful 2005 successful an effort by authorities to derail Mr Haw's protest.

Underneath his likeness are the words: "Stop sidesplitting the kids!"

Ward said: "I anticipation to seizure successful him his determination and his commitment. I'm hoping that helium volition beryllium remembered and seen arsenic a awesome of peace."

In February 2023, a radical of supporters and friends, including Sir Mark, launched a run to make a imperishable nationalist reminder of Mr Haw's sacrifice successful the sanction of peace.

More than 1,000 members of the nationalist contributed to rise much than £25,000 towards the costs of the statue and its installation.