Ruth,
St Thomas' does have a central location and the Florence Nightingale Museum
has made a real effort to include the life of Mary Seacole in it's permanent
exhibition. However, the museum is, as it's name attests, primarily focused on
the achievements and legacy of Florence Nightingale but the life of Mary
Seacole is more than just a footnote in the life of Florence Nightingale.
Mary made her name, outside the Caribbean, in the Crimean theatre of war,
which is why Cliff and many others have over the years argued for a statue of
Seacole to be placed alongside those of Florence Nightingale and Sidney
Herbert at the Crimea Monument in Lower Regent Street.
After all, if Florence Nightingale's commemoration is based on recognition of
her work during the Crimean war , then the same commemoration should apply
to Mary Seacole?
Regards,
John Siblon
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