Letter: Admiral Benbow is not ignored
The impression is being given by those promoting the idea of a statue to honour Admiral Benbow that Shrewsbury has ignored him. That is not so.
The story about him leaving the front door key above the door, to be left until his return, is a very well-known tale amongst Shrewsbury people.
There is a pub called The Admiral Benbow in Swan Hill.
In 2005, the Civic Society held a big exhibition in St Mary’s Church, where there is a very fine marble memorial to Benbow.
Many members of the Benbow family researching their family tree came along, and Woods Brewery at Craven Arms brewed a Benbow ale.
There is also a tree planted at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire (barely five miles from the new home of English Football at St George’s Park), to remember those who served in HMS Benbow.
Admiral Benbow will also be recognised in the new museum at the Music Hall.
Recent examples of statuary in the town have not found much favour with townspeople.
Benbow should not be seen in isolation; he cannot have been the only lad to run away to sea from Shropshire.
Rivers leading to the sea have always been vital to our role as a trading nation. Benbow captured Turkish pirates in the Mediterranean and died in Jamaica.
Today trade means tourism. How much better to develop tourism with Jamaica than spend the money on a statue.
Joan Fidler
Shrewsbury
Comments for: "Letter: Admiral Benbow is not ignored"
Land ahoy
A number of issues
Is a public house or a bottle of ale a fitting tribute?
Questionable if the KEY story is a well known by shrewsbury people, why keep local history local ? .
The Benbow display in the new museum was it in the pipe line before the campaign came about two years ago?
National Memorial Arboretum in "Staffordshire" we are talking shrewsbury shropshire not staffordshire.
I am sure many people did go to sea from shrewsbury but most did not become admirals and achieve world wide fame did they?.
The statues the writer eludes to which did not get public support i assume are Darwins Gate and the quantum leap the latter was possibly as it required public money to complete the statue due to later issues, and a clear breakdown in communications with all involved, the initial cost was not at cost to the tax payer.
If they are liked or not that is purely an individuals opinion. Benbow statue costs will NOT be from public money so we have not got issues with costs it will be privately funded.
The argument of not honoring an individual is a silly one, the only tribute to Benbow in shrewsbury is a plaque on a wall in a shrewsbury church known only to those who attend that church or to those being shown around by a town guide and the key has been hidden away on a modern building development .
The writer is correct tourism is important and the more interesting people from our "local" history we can USE to promote shrewsbury with the better .
However promoting tourism and trade to Jamica?it is highly unlikely we could generate much tourism from jamaica which would bring money to shrewsbury for our town traders etc .
Very sad to read such apathy and the need to berate a group whose whole aim is to promote a navy legend, and assist in generating tourism to the town of SHREWSBURY SHROPSHIRE.
I would also like to ask did this lady attend the launch at the lion Hotel and voice her opinion?.
Robert Jones
In the late 1950's and early 1960's, I and a few mates used to meet in the Benbow for a couple of drinks every Saturday night before dashing off to the Music Hall dance before the doors closed. Now I live in the USA, but every time I visit Shrewsbury I always drop in to the Benbow for old times sake.
Great memories.
Jezebel
Whats that got to do with the price of butter?????!!!!!
Robert Jones
I don't know. I preferred Marmite.
JOHN JONES
Were you the same Robert Jones that went to Sabrina on the Dana.
Robert Jones
I did go to Sabrina once in a while but I also went to Donaghy's dances in Mardol. It was easy to nip across the road to the pub opposite.