Waterloo Place - Keith Park Statue

Waterloo Place is a grand square at the end of Regent Street and very near to New Zealand House. It is in the heart of London's club land including in particular the Atheneum Club. Sitting at the end bordering on The Mallis a grand Duke of York column. There are range of statues including one of Robert Falcon Scott. But for kiwis there is a significant interest, a statue of airman Sir Keith Park honoured for his role as the defender of London in the Battle of Britain. Lord Tedder, head of the RAF said, "If ever any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did."

Keith Park was a World War I air ace having joined the Royal Flying Corps, forerunner of the RAF after serving as an artillery man and being wounded at Gallipoli . He was awarded the Military Cross after being credited with the shooting down of 20 German aircraft. He was shot down twice himself.

During World War II he controlled fighter patrols over France during Dunkirk and in the Battle of Britain his command took the brunt of the Luftwaffe's air attacks. Flying his personalised Hawker Hunter around his fighter airfields during the battle, 'Park gained a reputation as a shrewd tactician with an astute grasp of strategic issues and as a popular "hands-on" commander.' Following a campaign by a London financier his statue was displayed on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, then a permanent bronze version was unveiled in front of the Athenaeum Club on 15 September 2010.

FINDA PLACE TO STAY IN WESTMINSTER