THE managing director of Churchill Homes, Neil Calderwood, handed over the final £10,000 to complete the £50,000 required for the statue of Farnham born pamphleteer William Cobbett on his horse, designed by Sheila Mitchell Fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors.

The cheque was presented to Sheila’s husband and chairman of the William Cobbett Society, Charles Bone.

William Cobbett was an international political figure both here in the UK and in America and was born near the present site of the Churchill complex on Long Bridge road.

Sculptor Sheila who passed away in 2006, was also born in Farnham and had completed more than 300 major sculptures. A full account of the achievements of both of these Farnham personalities will be forthcoming at an unveiling of the statue later in the year.

Back in 2011 Charles proposed placing the statue opposite Cobbett’s birthplace in Gostrey Meadow but this was later turned down by Waverley Borough Council, after the authority took issue with the statue’s bulk and proposed location at the north west corner of the meadow.

Three years later in 2014 councillors agreed a condition for the proposed siting for the William Cobbett statue at the corner of Long Bridge and Downing Street.

Mr Bone commented: “It is an ideal position for the statue, we’ve had problems with it in the past, we were given permission on the park and then told somewhere else instead. But I’m happy the location is ideal, there is always someone on site. Everyone will see it, it’s a one-way system you can’t miss it.”