A city statue for Rupert Bear?

I know the subject of commemorating figures associated with a locality’s history can be rather contentious, but am a little surprised that a city like ours, with its long history, does not have more people commemorated by a statue.

So I am delighted there is a proposal to commemorate Aphra Behn, the 17th century playwright and poet who is supposed to have been born in Harbledown, although Sturry and Wye have also been associated with her birth [‘New society in honour of writer Benn’, Gazette, October 1]. However, surely we could go further with local commemorations; what about Mary Tourtel, who created Rupert the Bear and lived in Palace Street, and Peter Firmin in Blean, who created Bagpuss. Indeed, statues of Rupert or Bagpuss would perhaps attract children as Greyfriar’s Bobby does in Edinburgh.

Also, what about the artist Thomas Sidney Cooper, who lived in Canterbury and painted many views set on the Stour with the Cathedral and city skyline in the distance?

He did for cattle what Stubbs did for the horse, and rivalled the great Dutch masters of the 17th century.

And how about a statue of the young Mozart who may have performed at the Town Hall on July 25, 1765, on his return journey through Canterbury to Salzburg with his parents, the only known place outside London where he may have performed in concert?

At least if we can’t afford a statue, at least a plaque ought to be set on the wall of the building at the Corner of Guildhall Street occupying the site of the town or guildhall, demolished in 1951. At least these four persons representing the arts are not likely to prove contentious. Hubert Pragnell

Meadow Road, Canterbury

Would a statue of Peter Firmin or Bagpuss attract visitors?