High hopes for statue
A campaign to build a statue for Portsmouth's navy divers is gathering pace.
Fundraisers hope the Vernon Monument will rise from a pond at Gunwharf Quays within nine months.
The design, which also celebrates the navy's minehunting sailors, is being finalised by Australian sculptor Les Johnson. Below is an image of how it could look. The granite it will be carved from will come from Devon or Cornwall.
David Carey, in charge of the project, said: 'We're excited by the progress we're making.
'We raised nearly 1,000 from an open day at Gunwharf two Sundays ago, and we've got the stone on order.'
Mr Carey admitted that the 250,000 cost of building the monument has challenged the volunteers.
It is being funded entirely by donations raised from serving and retired service personnel, and members of the public.
He said: 'We had hoped to get to work and have it done by July, but you've got to be realistic when people are trying to keep money tight.
Gunwharf Quays stands on the site of HMS Vernon, which was at different points home to the navy's torpedo, diving and minewarfare schools.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 26 May 2012
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