The statue was given to Canterbury City Council by the Canterbury Commemoration Society. 

Professor Elaine Hobby, of Loughborough University and Honorary Vice-President of the Society, has played a pivotal role in this initiative from its inception.

After the unveiling, Her Majesty was given a tour around The Beaney, one of Canterbury City Council’s museums, and Canterbury Library which is run by Kent County Council (KCC). 

The Queen’s visit also included: 

• A reading of a Behn poem by Gyles Brandreth, President of the Aphra Behn Society of Canterbury 
• An Aphra Behn workshop with Year 3 children from St Peter’s Primary School 
• A look around the library with a focus on community engagement, volunteering, its collection of literature from Ukraine, its Book Club and Reading Well group 
• A look around The Beaney’s Curious Stories exhibition and the different ways of experiencing it with the Sensing Culture visually impaired group and their assistance dogs and the Power of the Object group which supports people living with dementia and their carers 
• A performance of an excerpt from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Behn’s play The Rover directed by Loveday Ingram 
• Readings of poems by local schoolchildren – winners of the Canterbury Festival’s Poet of The Year competition

As an expert on Behn, Prof Hobby provided extensive research and practical support to the campaign.

Prof Hobby was a key member of the selection committee that shortlisted the final statue designs and actively contributed to public engagement efforts around the project.

In 2023-24, with funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, she organised a series of public events in Canterbury to raise awareness of Aphra Behn’s legacy.

She also co-curated a three-month exhibition about Behn at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, which attracted thousands of visitors. In recognition of her invaluable contributions, the Canterbury Commemoration Society honoured her as an Honorary Vice-President.

Now retired from Loughborough University, Prof Hobby continues her scholarly work as the leader of the Cambridge University Press team dedicated to republishing all of Aphra Behn’s writings.

Speaking about the event, she said:

“It was exhilarating, after so many years of work, to see a teenage Aphra Behn standing again in the city if her birth. I hope she brings many more tourists to the great heritage site of Canterbury.

“It was a wonderful day. The Queen seemed genuinely entertained by the performance of an extract from one of Behn's comedies that the director Loveday Ingram and some RSC actors presented for her.

"The 1688 copy of Behn's novel about a slave-uprising that has just been donated to Canterbury by its owner was also on display, and Queen Camilla talked enthusiastically with its former owner.

“She was wholly charming, and seemed delighted to be stimulating public interest in the first professional woman writer in English.”

Speaking about the importance of the event, Prof Hobby said:

“Everyone should know about Aphra Behn, daughter of Canterbury, who was the first professional woman writer in English.

“She was a fantastically talented playwright, poet, novelist, and translator. I could not be more delighted that anyone walking along Canterbury High Street will now encounter her and be able to learn about all that she achieved.”

The statue (pictured above), created by sculptor Christine Charlesworth, was commissioned by the Canterbury Commemoration Society and gifted to Canterbury City Council.

The project received widespread community support, including academic conferences, theatrical revivals, and public exhibitions celebrating Behn’s legacy.

Canterbury City Council’s Head of Culture, Leisure and External Development Michelle Moubarak said: “The Beaney is home to the museum collection, art galleries, the city’s visitor information centre, the library and registration services. 

“It underwent an extensive renovation in 2012 to enable more people to enjoy it especially among those who have been underrepresented in the past. 

“Since its transformation, it has attracted 3.5million visitors including almost 50,000 schoolchildren, seen more than 7,000 people take part in health and wellbeing activities and has benefited from 360 volunteers giving up 12,245 hours of their time.” 

Prof Hobby added: “Loughborough University is honoured to have contributed to this landmark event, reinforcing its commitment to literary scholarship, public engagement, and cultural heritage.”

ENDS

About the sculpture 

Christine Charlesworth’s bronze sculpture of Aphra Behn has been gifted to the city by the Canterbury Commemoration Society as a tribute to the first full-time professional woman writer in the English language.  

Aphra (1640–1689) was born in Harbledown, just outside Canterbury, and spent her formative years in the city. 

The creation of the statue followed an extensive period of research, consultation and fundraising. 

After an international design competition, four maquettes were toured across the UK and the public asked which they thought would be the most fitting memorial.  

The winning design presents a 17-year-old Aphra, book in hand and theatrical mask behind her back, looking wistfully about her as she sets out for London with her family. 

Top image credit: Tim Stubbings