Do you know about Mary Seacole (1805-1881), the Jamaica-born nurse who cared for wounded British servicemen during the Crimean War in the 19th century (1853-1856)?
She was born to a Scottish soldier and a Jamaican woman. Read her memoir, Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands originally published in 1857 or any of the other books written about her.
My heart soared when I heard that after a 12-year fundraising campaign by the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal, Martin Jennings’ bronze statue honouring her was unveiled at St Thomas’ Hospital on Thursday, June 30.