A major community campaign to honour Benjamin Britten is nearing its conclusion – with the bronze monument set to look out over the sea that inspired him in his birth town of Lowestoft.

Benjamin Britten. Picture: Supplied (Image: Supplied)

And next month, one of Britain’s best-loved composers, Sir John Rutter – who sang for Britten on the 1963 recording of the War Requiem – will unveil the new Britten as a Boy statue.

But ahead of a special ceremony and the grand unveiling on Monday, November 10 the monument has now been installed at Lord Kitchener’s Garden on Kirkley Cliff in south Lowestoft.

Groundworks had started at Lord Kitchener’s Garden on Kirkley Cliff in south Lowestoft for the installation back in September. (Image: Mick Howes)

The statue, including its installation, has cost around £120,000.

And officials from the Britten as a Boy statue committee – who had launched an appeal to raise the monies for the monument back in April 2022 – were there on Wednesday to see it being finally craned into place.

The Britten as a Boy statue is carefully craned into place on Lowestoft seafront. Image: The Britten as a Boy statue committee (Image: The Britten as a Boy statue committee)

The statue – which was sculpted by the Royal sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley – arrived by lorry from the foundry in Wales at around 10am.

After reaching the gardens area – also known as the Twinning Gardens, close to the Claremont Pier in Lowestoft – the statue was manoeuvred into place near Britten’s childhood home at 21 Kirkley Cliff Road and on a site near one of his early schools, South Lodge School, which he attended from the age of eight.

The Britten as a Boy statue committee members, from left to right: Matthew Grafton, Phil Aves, Zeb Soanes, Ruth Wharrier and Elizabeth Talbot. Image: The Britten as a Boy statue committee (Image: The Britten as a Boy statue committee)

It took just over three hours to install, and the statue will now remain covered until its grand unveiling by Sir John Rutter at 2pm on November 10.

The special ceremony will include the premiere of a commemorative song entitled ‘What Bliss is Home’, with music by Suffolk composer Ben Parry and lyrics by Zeb Soanes.

The song’s title is taken from a diary entry made by Britten aged 15, expressing his deep affection for his hometown of Lowestoft.

The ceremony will be attended by members of Britten’s family and St Mary’s Primary School children who will sing the specially composed song.