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The Artist Selection Panel reaches a decision..

The Guards Museum in Birdcage Walk was the setting for a dramatic announcement by Baroness Amos, Chair of the Selection Panel, on the artist chosen to complete the Mary Seacole Memorial.

Baroness Valerie Amos, Chair of the Selection Panel appointed by the Trustees of the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal announced that the presentation by the eight shortlisted artists had been narrowed down to two. Both showed great merit and the Panel decided to interview both artists again before making a final selection. Martin Jennings and Bill Woodrow will now meet with the Panel and a final choice will be made in June.

Baroness Amos said "This has been a rich and rewarding experience for the Selection Panel and we would like to commend all the short listed candidates for their interest and their ideas on how best to remember Mary Seacole. Our final two artists Martin Jennings and Bill Woodrow have outstanding reputations and wonderful examples of their work can be seen in the UK and elsewhere. I look forward to the next stage and in due course, to the erection of a fitting memorial to Mary Seacole in London."

Lord Soley, Chairman of the trustees said "This was clearly a tough choice and I am delighted with the professionalism of the Panel and their determination to make the right choice and I look forward to the final choice now to be made in June."

Lord Soley said "We now have two artists of international reputation, determined to create a lasting memorial to represent this remarkable woman and to add substantially to the artistic attraction of the South Bank. This will be a world class memorial for a world class city and a world class nursing hero in a conflict zone.

We have a prestigious site for the Memorial in front of St Thomas' Hospital across the river from the Houses of Parliament and we have a promise to construct the Memorial at cost price by McAlpine PLC who has a history of building memorials involving military tradition.

I am also delighted to announce today that Princess Alexandra has agreed to unveil the memorial when it is completed.

We now have to raise the remaining £400,000 necessary to build and maintain the Memorial. It is a big challenge but it is one we can and will achieve.

Mary Seacole was well remembered by the troops in the 19th century and I am delighted that she will now have a Memorial that is so long overdue."

THE CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEES OF THE MARY SEACOLE MEMORIAL STATUE APPEAL WISH TO THANK BARCLAYS BANK PLC FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS.

THEY ALSO WISH TO THANK THE DAVIDSON ARTS PARTNERSHIP FOR ORGANISING AND MANAGING THE SELECTION PROCESS.