South Tyneside Council has officially approved plans to install a new memorial sculpture honoring The Forgotten Army and a local World War II hero at North Marine Park in South Shields. The statue, created by renowned local sculptor Ray Lonsdale, will commemorate Len Gibson, a Sunderland prisoner of war who endured captivity on the infamous Burma Death Railway under Japanese forces.
The evocative Corten steel sculpture depicts Gibson handing his handmade banjo to a young local boy, symbolizing peace and forgiveness after his release from Far East captivity. As a prisoner of war, Gibson was forced to work on the notorious Mergui Road and, while interned, built his own musical instrument to entertain fellow prisoners around campfires each night. The 2.7-meter-high statue will be permanently displayed on elevated ground within the Grade II-listed North Marine Park.
Len Gibson's remarkable life story extends far beyond his wartime experiences. After returning to Sunderland, he inspired thousands of young people, including his neighbor Dave Stewart, who would later become famous as part of the musical duo Eurythmics. Gibson worked as a music teacher at a local school and became a long-time supporter of the cancer charity Daft as a Brush. He even adopted one of the charity's ambulances, with children from his former school creating artwork for the vehicle and naming it "Len Guitar Gibson."
The inspirational great-grandfather passed away on July 31, 2021, at the remarkable age of 101. The sculpture was officially unveiled at South Shields Town Hall in August 2025, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, which marked the end of World War II following Japan's surrender. Brian Burnie, founder of the Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care charity and a longtime friend of Gibson, privately funded the moving tribute.
According to supporting documents submitted to the council, the finished artwork "conveys sensitivity and emotion" and shows Gibson wearing the clothes he would have worn as a Japanese prisoner of war. The sculpture is intended to "serve as a lasting tribute to Len Gibson, a local war hero and for all The Forgotten Army who fought in Burma." The charity's formal application described the piece as a "distinctive and thought-provoking" work of art designed to ensure that these soldiers are "less likely to be ever forgotten."
Despite the approval, the project faced some public opposition during the consultation process. Five residents raised concerns about the statue's specific location, potential impacts on park users, loss of views, the level of community consultation, and future maintenance responsibilities. Councillor David Francis, ward representative for Beacon and Bents, supported the concept of commemorating a local veteran while promoting peace and forgiveness, calling it "a welcome addition to our borough's cultural and historical landscape."
However, Councillor Francis suggested alternative locations that might offer "greater prominence and public engagement," including areas near Haven Point Leisure Centre, the paved area near the town's lifeboat station, the lower play park area, or near the bowling greens. He described these as potentially more suitable locations that could provide "a striking visual presence while maintaining harmony with the park's landscape and recreational use."
In their decision report, council planners addressed the various concerns raised by residents. They determined that the statue represents "an indication of both community spirit and the social development of the area" and that its materials would "integrate into the palette of the wider street scene and existing structures in the park." The planning department concluded that the proposed location "would not appear unduly awkward or incongruous in the wider park given the various existing items of public art in it and the locale."
Regarding residential impact, planners noted that the statue would be positioned at a "significant distance" of over 60 meters from properties on Lawe Road and "would not have an unacceptable impact on the residential amenity." They also clarified that while some residents were concerned about loss of views, this "is not a material planning consideration" under planning law. The council emphasized that statutory consultees, including The Gardens Trust and the council's historic environment officer, raised no objections to the siting and design.
The sculpture will be mounted on a rough-hewn sandstone base, with the rough finish intended to represent the harsh environment endured by prisoners of war and to discourage close contact with the statue. An interpretation board, similar in design to those located elsewhere in the park, will provide additional context and information about Gibson's story and The Forgotten Army.
Ray Lonsdale, whose sculptural works can be seen throughout the region including in Seaham, St. Peters Riverside, and Keel Square in Sunderland, emphasized the unique importance of this particular piece. Speaking earlier in 2025, he noted, "The importance of this particular statue is that it's for The Forgotten Army. It's for the people who were captured, tortured and worked to death in many cases. You see all the First World War statues, you see all the different aspects that are commemorated on a regular basis, so it's nice to bring this story to the fore."
The council's decision report confirmed that the development would "respect the character and appearance of North Marine Park" and would not be "detrimental to the visual amenities of the area." Planners noted that the design is "acceptable from a heritage perspective" given the park's status as a Grade II-listed site on Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
Following the approval granted on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, charity officials at Daft as a Brush hope to have the statue installed at the site by the end of the year. The memorial aims to "enhance the park emotionally" as a tribute to the many soldiers from the area who never returned from the Bridge over the River Kwai and the Death Railway in Burma. This latest addition to Lonsdale's portfolio continues his tradition of creating meaningful public art that connects communities with their historical heritage and honors those who served.
