Statue unveiled to honour Open University founder

A statue honouring the late politician Jennie Lee has been unveiled to celebrate her role in establishing The Open University (OU) in Milton Keynes.

Commissioned by artist Andy Edwards, the fibreglass version will stand, for the time being, outside the city's railway station, before a bronze artwork is unveiled at a location yet to be decided.

Baroness Lee of Asheridge, as she became known, was part of a group that recommended the university's creation in 1969, before she died in 1988.

Labour city council leader, Pete Marland, said they chose the location so "most people that come through the railway station will see her, interact with the statue and see what she meant for Milton Keynes".

Edwards was commissioned by Milton Keynes City Council, having previously sculpted statues of The Beatles and Bob Marley in Liverpool and former Manchester United football manager Sir Alex Ferguson in Aberdeen.

A full-size fibreglass version of the statue is on display in Station Square, to give people the chance to see what the final bronze artwork will look like when it is installed later in the year.

Edwards will use feedback from the public to decide on its final home.

He told the BBC "the sculpture is Jenny at the height of her powers" and said she laid the foundation stone for it.

"I had that image of her addressing people in my mind and that is a prime part of this likeness, which also reflects Jenny throughout the ages," he added.

Baroness Lee was a Labour MP in two stints from 1929 to 1970, and was appointed the first minister of the arts in 1964.

Her vision for the OU was a platform that would allow students to learn from home, using posted learning materials alongside TV and radio programmes.

The first students began their studies in 1971, initially with 25,000 places, but now more than 2.3 million people have studied with the institution.

Marland, along with Edwards, unveiled the statue as one of his last political tasks, before he stands down as leader and councillor in May.

He said: "The OU is one of the great institutions of this country and is open to absolutely everybody regardless of their background and existing qualifications.

"It overlaps with the principles of Milton Keynes that if you work hard, and if you do well, then you can get on in life."

John D'Arcy, from the OU, said: "At all our degree ceremonies we speak about the immense contribution she has made to higher education in the UK.

"I am sure she would have a right smile at people celebrating the brilliant work she did over sixty years ago."

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