Dr Elsie Inglis will finally have a statue built in her honour after a gargantuan effort by “Team Elsie” to raise £50,000 succeeded.
The statue will be placed on the historic Royal Mile in Edinburgh and will honour one of Edinburgh’s most famous women.
Team Dr Elsie Inglis, a group made up of around 20 individuals, was assisted by various politicians, organisations and groups in trying to raise the funds.
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The £50,000 will go towards the costs associated in creating the statue as well as the costs associated with having a 'digital beacon' installed.
The ‘digital beacon’ will provide additional information on the history of Dr Inglis, her Scottish Women's Hospitals, colleagues, and War World One efforts.
In 2017, The Rt. Hon. Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh set up a fundraising campaign with support from the OneCity Trust, Mercat Tours International and Team Elsie, following the 100th anniversary of Dr Elsie Inglis’ death, to commemorate her life with a statue.
‘A statue for Elsie Inglis’ is understood to be the first statue of a woman to be erected on the Royal Mile.
However there are a dozen or so honouring various men.
It is hoped that this will be a constant reminder of the too often forgotten contribution of women throughout Auld Reekie’s history.
Thea Laurie, who has been part of the effort from the beginning alongside historian Fiona Garwood, said: “When we started this out, we were just two wee Edinburgh ladies who were very interested in history and felt there was this gap for statues for women and also a gap in the city recognising women.
“Edinburgh doesn’t have symbols of women, just old men sitting on horses, which means there are no female figures that our younger generation can look to emulate and admire.
“Dr Inglis is the perfect representative for women in Edinburgh.
“Her achievements in philanthropy and her efforts during World War One are just exceptional. She was a woman who would not be told to sit still and know her place.
“It is an absolutely brilliant achievement by everyone involved. From Jenny Minto MSP to Linda Bauld, Judy Murray, Sarah Sheridan and the Lord Provost Frank Ross. In all honesty every member of Team Elsie did their part and there are too many people to thank.
“I think Edinburgh has to say thank you to this woman as she is an outstanding person who did outstanding work for the people of Edinburgh.”
The fundraising page for the campaign describes Dr Elsie Inglis (1864 – 1917) as an early pioneering Scottish physician and surgeon.
In 1894 Elsie set up her own medical practice and a hospice for women in Edinburgh.
She was an ardent Suffragist and campaigner for women’s medical education.
In 1914 she defied the War Office after being told ‘Go home and sit still’ and founded the Scottish Women’s Hospitals for Foreign Service, sending qualified teams of female doctors and nurses, auxiliaries and drivers to 11 countries including France, Serbia and Russia helping thousands of soldiers and civilians who were caught up in the horror of war.
The site of the statue will be situated where her hospice opened its doors in 1904 to the city’s poorest women and babies at 219 High Street.
Those involved in the campaign thanked the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh World Heritage supporting the campaign with funding too.
It is understood that those behind the campaign will now be holding a process of deciding upon a sculptor to create the art work.
You can keep up to date with the process on the “Statue for Elsie Inglis” Facebook page.
