Shackleton Memorial in Westminster Abbey

On the 150th anniversary of his birth, Thursday 15 February 2024, a Memorial to ‘The Boss’ will be unveiled in Westminster Abbey.

The Great West Door will open at 1630 to allow the congregation to enter for Choral Evensong, to which all are welcome. Abbey staff will direct people to their seats by 1645, ahead of the arrival of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

After the service, there will be a private dedication ceremony in the Abbey’s south cloister, close to a memorial to pioneering sailors Captain James Cook, Sir Francis Chichester and Sir Francis Drake. The Shackleton memorial was created by sculptor Will Davies, and incorporates stones including Connemara marble and Kilkenny limestone to reflect Shackleton’s Irish heritage.

The memorial will be unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal and dedicated by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, who said:

‘Shackleton’s name conjures up a little bit of an old and familiar narrative about a great man with remarkable courage and resilience. That is true, but it does not do justice to his achievement. Shackleton was more than an explorer; he was a story-teller, a pioneer in photography and film and an inspiring speaker. He planted the idea and image of the Antarctic in our imaginations. Shackleton helped persuade us towards a new excitement about science and a deeper reverence for the world in which we live. This memorial will help sustain that legacy of wonder.’