The statue was commissioned by South Glamorgan County Council[3] and designed by Welsh sculptor, Robert Thomas, who also created a number of other sculptures in Cardiff city centre.[4] The statue was erected in 1987 at the far end of Queen Street.[1] It is the only statue of Bevan (as of 2021) in the United Kingdom.[5]
The figure of Bevan, wearing a suit and leaning forward in a typical pose, is cast in bronze and stands on top of a polished granite pedestal. The statue is 1.83 metres (6.0 ft) in height, while the pedestal is 2.14 metres (7.0 ft) high.[3] In gold on the front of the pedestal are the words "Founder of the National Health Service".
In 2018, as the 70th anniversary of the founding of the NHS approached, plastic spikes were added to Bevan's head to deter the regular visits of seagulls, who had frequently covered Bevan's head with their guano.[1][6]
The statue is often used as the focus, or starting point, of events, demonstrations and protests.[7][8][9]
