A Bench in Soho Square

Here are the speeches:

Chris Winwood, bench project organiser:

Chris! "Kirsty MacColl once sang about Soho Square: with pigeons shivering in naked trees, it's a sad place. there's an empty bench in Kirsty's Soho Square, if we'd have come, we'd have found her there.

So here we all are, now. it's so exciting to see so many people here: Kirsty's family, friends, colleagues and fans, as we unveil the bench Kirsty sang about.

I don't think this is either the time or the place to mourn, or to dwell on Kirsty's passing. I know that, no matter how upset and shocked we fans were, we cannot compare with the experience of those who knew Kirsty.

However, Kirsty's death led to a real sense of community among and shared experience the fans. Using Kirsty's website, fanzine and internet chat group, fans from across Britain, Europe and the world pulled together and became friends. as a result of Kirsty's work, I feel I have friends across the UK, in Europe, America and Australia.

Meeting so many fans at Kirsty's memorial service in January was so exciting. After the service, we sat in the pub, had a giggle and sang bits of her songs. we talked about our favourite and least favourite of Kirsty's lyrics, and celebrated everything she'd done.

The idea to make Kirsty's bench a reality came from that. We all said it would never happen. We wanted a permanent, lasting memorial, not just another blue plaque on a wall somewhere.

With the officials I spoke to almost falling over themselves to be helpful, cash started to arrive from fans. Cash, cheques, hundred dollar bills and rare bootleg CDs. people sent what they could afford, and everyone wished they could send more. even though I collected the cash, braving the woman in Thomas Cook with twenty dollar bills three times in one week, this is the fans' gift to Kirsty's memory.

As we're not able to produce a cash-in CD of songs everyone already has, we brought one of her best songs to life. We chose the inscription: a quote from the song, and we're so excited to see so many people here now: united in one way or another by our love of Kirsty. and we raised enough cash to buy more than two benches.

A few thank yous:
to the fans, my friends, some of whom I met at Kirsty's concerts, some at her memorial service, and some I will meet for the first time in the pub this afternoon. I'm sure that a celebrity could not wish for a better bunch of fans than Kirsty's - remembered with continuing record sales, a university scholarship, the Music for Cuba Fund, a bench .. and that's just for starters.

Thanks to Alan O, Ross McMichael and Graham Scaife. all responsible for spreading the word. Sarah at MajorMinor management did all the running around, liaising with Kirsty's family emailing and phone calls. Eddi Reader and Sincere Management for help with advertising the bench fund. Bob Campion, Dave Creese and Barry Haines at Westminster Council, who know all there is to know about benches. My partner, David, who had never heard of Kirsty, once upon a time, but now knows when to go "baby" in the middle of "they don't know", and to Kirsty's family and friends.

All of us who were lucky enough to meet her know that she was special, and everyone who didn't meet her knows that she was quite a woman. We just hope, as fans, that you - the family and friends - are happy with our little gift." real audio.

Apologies to Chris - my microphone was off for the first half of his speech. Oops! those technological props!

Jean MacColl, Kirsty's mother (pictured with the wife of the Cuban Ambassador):

Jean "I'd just like to say how wonderful it is to see you all today. I'm a bit upset but this is not an occasion for sadness. I'm just a bit emotional because I'm her mum. I'm so thrilled to see you all here, your love and affection and kindness and your solidarity has been so supportive of all the family, and I do thank you, really, from the bottom of my heart. It helps a lot. You've been most generous, and I'm sure Kirsty would be amazed at how many friends and fans she had, and I can't thank you enough. I think this is a wonderful place, and I'm sure she's looking down and having a little smile somewhere, and I shall come and sit on the bench. If I get down, this is where I shall come." real audio

A Bench in Soho Square
Steve Wilkinson's speech on behalf of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign
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A Bench in Soho Square

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