HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain [February 2001]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 6 February 2001.

A committee including landscape designers, architects and art experts has been set up to advise on the most suitable location and preferred design for a fountain in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and to supervise the detailed process leading to its installation.

The Fountain Design Committee will be chaired by the Hon. Rosa Monckton, a member of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee. It will advise the Memorial Committee on a suitable site for the fountain within one of London’s Royal Parks. The Memorial Committee will then announce its final choice of location.

The Memorial Committee believes that a fountain would be an appropriate additional memorial to complement the four commemorative projects already established. Once a suitable site has been chosen, the Fountain Design Committee will supervise a design competition for an appropriate fountain, taking account of landscape and other considerations particular to the selected site.

The most suitable designs will be submitted to the Memorial Committee for consideration before a final decision is taken and the installation process can begin.

It was also announced today that Lord Luce, the Lord Chamberlain to the Royal Household, will succeed Lord Camoys on the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The terms of reference of the Fountain Design Committee are:

2. The Fountain Design Committee will advise the Memorial Committee on the choice of exact location and actual design of the fountain, and oversee the whole process from the preparation of the specification, the selection of the design team, consultation with interested parties, to the work to construct the fountain.

The members of the Fountain Design Committee are:

Hon Rosa Monckton (Chair)

Chair of ‘Kids’ charity for disabled children; close personal friend of Diana, Princess of Wales and member of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee.

Richard Cork

Chief art critic, Times; former trustee Public Arts Development Trust; member advisory group on the Vacant Plinth in Trafalgar Square; exhibition organiser.

Edward Jones AADipl Hons RIBA

Architect in private practice: projects include Royal Opera House; buildings for Henry Moore Foundation, Leeds; National Portrait Gallery; and housing in New Delhi.

James Lingwood

Co-Director, Artangel Trust, which commissions and produces major new works by contemporary artists, eg Rachel Whiteread’s House.

Sandra Percival

Director, Public Art Development Trust, which promotes commissioning, restoration and preservation of art in public, and public education about art in public places.

David Sylvester CBE

Former Chairman, Arts Council of Great Britain; member of the South Bank Board; exhibitions curator, writer on art.

William Weston

New Chief Executive, Royal Parks Agency; previously Secretary to the Governors and General Manager of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Kim Wilkie

Principal, Kim Wilkie Associates; landscape design expert; member of the Royal Parks Advisory Board.

Dr Giles Worsley PhD FSA

Architecture correspondent, Daily Telegraph; member of Somerset House Trust, Building Committee of the Trustees of the National Gallery; former member Royal Fine Art Commission.