Murdered Tory MP Sir David Amess to get a statue in his memory
MURDERED Tory MP Sir David Amess is to get a statue in his memory.
Sculptor Andrew Lilley is working on the bronze, which will cost £37,000.
He said: “I want to recognise his special contribution to Southend becoming a city.”
Sir David had long campaigned for the Essex resort to get city status, which was granted three days after his killing.
The Southend West MP was stabbed to death in a terror attack at a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea in October 2021.
Artist Andrew, 69, who is hoping to get funding for the statue, added: “It will be very realistic . . . and it is quite far along.
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“He’ll have his papers in his hand about the city status for Southend and his characteristic smile.”
Andrew said: "Sir David was exemplary among MPs and that needs to be recognised, because it's quite rare.
"I admired his principles and what he stood for.
Andrew hopes the finished artwork will be sited on Southend’s landmark pier or seafront.
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John Lamb, West Leigh Tory councillor and Sir David's friend, said: "This is important because Sir David was someone who represented Southend so well.
";He was one of our greatest supporters in every way, including in Parliament.
"He was a man of the people who worked for and helped so many people."