Poet Laureate Simon Armitage leads calls to rescue Byron statue at bicentenary of poet's death

LONDON - April 16, 2024 - PRLog -- A wreath-laying service to commemorate the bicentenary of Lord Byron's death at Missolonghi, Greece, on 19 April 1824 will be held at Westminster Abbey at 6pm on 18 April 2024, marking the beginning of a wider public campaign by the Byron Society to raise funds for the restoration and relocation of London's long-neglected national Byron memorial statue. The statue was erected in 1880 on the edge of London's Hyde Park but now stands forgotten on an inaccessible traffic island on Park Lane. A new, high profile location in Hyde Park has been offered.

George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788–19 April 1824) is regarded as one of the greatest English poets and writers in English. In a film promoting the fundraising appeal posted on the Byron Society's website, Simon Armitage, the UK Poet Laureate, commented: "It's been a thrill in this anniversary year to be reacquainted with Byron's work; so passionate, inventive, mischievous, modern. I often think he is celebrated more in Italy and Greece than he is in this country. So let's get him back in his rightful place. No more directing traffic on a London roundabout. Let's get him in the park, out in the open, where he can be remembered and respected as a great poet of this world."

In his own time, Byron was an advocate for social reform and championed in particular the cause for national liberation, offering his money, time and energy to those fighting in Ravenna for the freedom of Italy. 19 April 2024 marks the bicentenary of Byron's death in Missolonghi, Western Greece, where he succumbed to fever at the age of thirty-six while supporting the Greeks in their struggle for independence from the Ottoman Turks. Also supporting the appeal, the writer and historian Tom Holland said: "It's terrible that Lord Byron of all men should be imprisoned on a traffic island. This is the man who died a martyr to Greek liberty, he served as an inspiration to generations of writers, and painters and freedom fighters. So, let's set Byron free!"

The wreath-laying ceremony is part of the Byron Society's bicentenary activities and all are welcome to attend. The project has so far gained the support of the Heritage of London Trust (https://www.heritageoflondon.org/projects/the-lord-byron-...) and other charitable foundations as well as individual donors but £230,000 of the estimated cost of £360,000 is yet to be raised. Donations can be made by visiting www.thebyronsociety.com. The Byron Society (Charity number 1197293) is a charitable incorporated organisation whose objects include educating the public in and promoting knowledge of and research into the life and works of the poet Lord Byron.