Britain celebrated the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in the British Empire in 1807 with a series of events across the country.  The major role played by members of the Society of Friends in that achievement was highlighted in the media.  It also led to a wider recognition of the work of Joseph Sturge VI (1793-1859) in the subsequent battle for the full abolition of slavery. 

Seventy members of the family were present in Birmingham on 24th March 2007 for the re-dedication of his statue.  With many others, family members who had supported the restoration appeal for the statue first gathered in the Marriott Hotel at Five Ways, Birmingham, for a reception hosted by the hotel.

The ceremony

At 11 o’clock, as they stepped out into a bitterly cold wind, the cheerful sound of a West Indian steel band greeted the Lord Mayor, local Quakers, members of the Civic Society and the others who contributed so generously towards this expensive project.  The quality of the restoration was most impressive and rewarding for those who had responded to the appeal by Joseph E. Sturge to find the money required.  More than £15,000 had been raised before the appeal fund was finally closed, with a matching sum contributed by the City of Birmingham to complete the task.

There were a number of speeches.  A representative of the Civic Society described the sad fate of many of the City’s public monuments and how important it was that this statue, one of the finest in Birmingham, had been preserved.  For the family, Joe Sturge spoke of his great pride in the restoration, which he had waited more than forty years to see completed.  His granddaughter, Amelia Sturge, then joined the Lord Mayor to unveil a new interpretation board beside the statue.  This excellent addition offers a brief explanation of the life work of Joseph VI and an account of his support for the town where he spent his adult life.

After an attempt to gather family members together for a group photograph, all present quickly boarded into the warmth of two coaches to travel the short distance to “Edencroft” at 64 Wheeleys Road.  This was formerly the site of “Southfield”, the home of Joseph and his family, and now is marked by the erection of a blue plaque in his honour.  Peter Sturge spoke of the history of the house and its occupants, recalling the less-known role of Joseph’s sister Sophia in the anti-slavery campaign and the later work of his daughter, Sophia, who continued her father’s work for world peace and many other causes.

The coaches then took everyone to the marbled magnificence of the Council House in the City centre, where a subscription Civic Lunch to completed the proceedings. 

Appropriately, the traditional Quaker silence preceded the meal. In the speeches that followed, The Lord Mayor gave a welcome, with a response by the Chairman of the Birmingham Civic Society. Mr Morgan Jeffers, former Minister for Education, Health and Social Services of Montserrat recalled the contribution of the family to his Island and throughout the West Indies.  He sought opportunities to commemorate the name of Joseph Sturge in Birmingham today, particularly in the field of education.  Roger Sturge made the concluding remarks, recognising the faith and principles which had motivated Joseph Sturge in his life’s work for world peace and progress for all.

The lunch concluded well-after four o’clock, ending what had been a full and very happy day.  For many cousins it was the first opportunity of meeting again since our Pilgrimage gathering in Gloucestershire in 2005.  There were suggestions that “we must do this again.”  Is there a willing volunteer organiser out there?

The Birmingham Civic Society had commissioned replicas of the restored statue, now jokingly nicknamed “Sturgettes”.  Those who had ordered these carried very heavy boxes away from the Council House, some pondering how they would transport them through baggage search and onto aircraft for the journey back to America in these security conscious times!

For those family members who were unable to participate in the event, there is still the opportunity to travel to Birmingham, see the statue and walk the “Joseph Sturge Trail” that has been established to link the places mentioned in this article and other sites associated with Joseph Sturge and his life in that city.