Futurecity curated and managed the commissioning of a permanent bronze sculpture of Sir John Betjeman for St Pancras International, celebrating the poet’s pivotal role in saving the station from demolition in the 1960s.

Commissioned by London & Continental Railways as part of the £800 million restoration of St Pancras International, the sculpture was created by British artist Martin Jennings and unveiled in November 2007 to mark the station’s reopening as the London terminus of the Eurostar high-speed rail link.

Sited on the main concourse beneath the soaring Barlow Shed roof, the larger-than-life bronze figure depicts Betjeman in motion - clad in suit, mackintosh and trilby - gazing upwards at the architecture he fought to preserve. The sculpture stands on a plinth of Cumbrian slate, engraved with lines from Betjeman’s poetry that reflect his love of place, travel and the built environment.

Betjeman’s daughter, Candida Lycett Green, was closely involved in the selection of the artist and advised on the portrayal, ensuring a sensitive and authentic representation. The work was unveiled by Lycett Green alongside the then Poet Laureate Andrew Motion.

The statue has become an enduring tribute to Betjeman’s legacy and a powerful symbol of cultural advocacy shaping the future of historic infrastructure.

Photography by Ron Bambridge