Instead we have worked to broaden support, particularly at a national level. National media coverage has brought us new donors from across the country and we are very grateful for this. Now lock-down is ending we appeal to all our supporters, old and new, to help us with our fundraising, if you are able. You can do this by: giving one-off donations, small or large; committing to regular monthly donations; or setting up your own challenge to fundraise for us.

Organise a Fundraising Challenge 

We would love it if you could organise a fundraising challenge. This could be taking part in  an organised event, such as a half marathon or bike ride, or an individual challenge

you set up yourself. Anything you can think of, or imagine, from parachute jumps to coffee mornings and cakes sales through to trampoline jumps and skipping or walking challenges in your back garden, all of it will be helpful to us. Of course, the more you can fundraise the better, but it is also very important to us to publicise Mary’s story and make the Appeal known to the public. Our website maryclarkestatue.com allows you to give via LocalGiving and the Paypal Giving Fund. We suggest you organise your challenge via  https://localgiving.org/fundraisers. Or use https://uk.gofundme.com/start/charity-fundraising which links easily to the Paypal Giving Fund. Please make sure you include the words “Mary Clarke Statue Appeal” in your title and share your fundraising page links, photos, and videos on social media with the hashtag #MaryClarke and our twitter handle @mary_statue.

Dedicate your Challenge to “Captain Tom 100” via LocalGiving

On 6 April 2020, Captain Tom Moore raised an astounding £38.9 million for the NHS Covid-19 appeal by walking 100 laps around his garden. To honour him and his incredible achievements, the Captain Tom 100 is taking place on the weekend of 30th April 2021 – 3rd May (the 30th marks the day that would have been his 101st birthday). It invites everyone to fundraise for a charity of their choice, taking  on a challenge around the number 100 anytime and anywhere during that weeks end. You could bake a 100 cupcakes, cycle 100 miles, walk a 100 steps etc etc. 

All you need to do is click on the link https://localgiving.org/fundraisers, but make sure you  include the words “Captain Tom 100” and “Mary Clarke Statue Appeal” in your fundraiser title when setting up your page so that you’re included on the Local Giving campaign Captain Tom 100 page (Local Giving are offering a £100 cash prize to whichever fundraiser raises most for their charity, to be paid to that charity). Share your fundraising page links, photos, and videos on social media with the #CaptainTom100 hashtag and also #MaryClarke and our twitter handle @mary_statue.

The concert was hosted in sparkling style by comedian Zoe Lyons and the hugely effective appeal for donations was made by broadcaster Simon Fanshawe, one of our Patrons. After all expenses had been met, the event raised £4,500.

Cllr Alex Phillips, Mayor of Brighton & Hove, was there, as were many councillors. Juliet Smith, Deputy Lieutenant for East Sussex was present, and introduced the evening in her capacity as one of the charity’s Patrons.

Jazz fans and others who knew little about jazz, packed the church to hear the two singers present “Double Standards – an evening of jazz and joy”. There were numbers by Waits, Mitchell and Bennett skilfully mixed with lesser known classics. At times the audience sat in rapt silence, stunned by the talent of the singers and at others, they cheered, whooped and sang along. Claire Martin’s extraordinary rendition of A Natural Woman had most of the audience singing. 

Claire Martin and Liane Carroll were supported by local a cappella group Women of Note and feminist punk band Siren. Siren gave an upbeat first public performance of their moving Song for Mary, especially written by Jude Winter in support of the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal. Women of Note’s rendition of Nana Was a Suffragette was a revelation to many of the audience, who had never heard it before.

The event was organised by Jean Calder and the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal, but with the support of many, many others. Jean said:

“We are so grateful to Claire and Liane for generously sharing their superb music with us. Many thanks too to Siren and Women of Note for their music. Also to Zoe, Simon and Juliet for their pitch perfect interventions. However, the evening could not have been the outstanding success it was without the help of our wonderful team of volunteers the Friends of Mary Clarke. Also our helpers from the B&H Women’s History Group, inVISIBLEwomen and others. I’d like to add my personal thanks to Kate Ray of Whiskey Bravo Productions Ltd, our brilliant stage manager on the night; to Pepper our superb Sound Engineer; and to Laura Chatburn of St George’s Community Centre. Last but not least, thanks are due to Jenny Stroud, jazz fan extraordinaire, who introduced us to Claire Martin.”

The MC will be comedian Zoe Lyons and writer and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe will Appeal for funds.

Claire and Liane will sing numbers by Waits, Mitchell and Bennett skilfully mixed with stylish reworkings of lesser known classics and new original material. The two friends will provide some seriously swinging music. 

These internationally acclaimed singers and their performances have been described as:

“Worldclass’” – The Times

“Faultless”  – London Jazz News

“An evening of musical fireworks that excites and delights.” – Musical Theatre Review

“Liane Carroll doesn’t just sing jazz, she is jazz.” – MOJO Magazine

“Claire Martin ranks among the four or five finest female jazz vocalists on the planet”. – Jazz Times USA

Brighton-based comedian Zoe Lyons has agreed to act as MC on 4th March at our benefit concert “Double Standards”. Like our great singers, Claire Martin and Liane Carroll, she is in huge demand. We  are so grateful she is making the time to be there and proud to have her support for the statue of Mary Clarke.

Zoe took her first steps down the comedy path in 2003 after training as an actress at the Poor School in London. She went on to win the Funny Women Competition in 2004 and her debut Edinburgh show was nominated for the if.comedy newcomer award.

In 2008 she won the Dave, Funniest Joke of The Fringe Award. Zoe has appeared in many TV shows including Mock the Week, The Wright Stuff, Michael McIntyre Roadshow and many more. 

Don’t miss seeing her at our concert Double Standards on 4th March at St George’s Church.

Great news. Broadcaster, writer and activist Simon Fanshawe has agreed to join the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal’s group of Patrons. He has already proved himself worth his weight in gold by putting us in touch with Comedian Zoe Lyons and some other famous folk.

There’s even a possibility Zoe Lyons may MC  our benefit concert on the 4th March at St George’s Church. But more about that later…. Tickets for “Double Standards” the concert by jazz legions Claire Martin and Liane Carroll can be booked at: double-standards-4mar.eventbrite.co.uk/ . Simon will be there, possibly serving at the cash Bar or making himself very useful in some other capacity.

Simon joins our other Patrons: local M.P.s Maria Caulfield, Caroline Lucas and Peter Kyle; Baroness Joyce Gould, life long campaigner for women’s rights;  Professor June Purvis, academic and biographer of Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst (Mary Clarke’s sister and niece); and Juliet Smith, Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex. We are very grateful to them all for their support.

Note that the M.P.s are very unlikely to be able to attend the concert because Parliament is sitting and the concert is mid-week.

Jean Calder (Chair of Appeal)