Royal Recognition

It's always a pleasure to see someone succeed who you've believed in and followed for many years. Some twelve years ago, I purchased my first sculpture by Paul Day - a frieze of the House of Commons, and it remains one of my favourites. Indeed, some years later, he did one of the House of Lords for me, both of which are in my London home.

Today's papers are full of the unveiling of a national monument to the Queen Mother on The Mall, and of the two Paul Day friezes that accompany the statue, which depict aspects of the Queen Mother's life. This is the second time Paul has completed a commission for the Royal Family - the first was the Battle of Britain Monument on the Embankment opposite the Ministry of Defence, commemorating "The Few" - those people who flew to defend this island in our darkest hour during the Second World War. Paul goes from strength to strength, and his reputation grows because he is a traditional sculptor. He draws beautifully with a pencil, he sculpts scenes we can understand, but at the same time has a remarkable talent, and I hope many of you will go and enjoy both these works.