Britten as a Boy

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Britten as a Boy
File:Britten as a Boy.jpg
Britten as a Boy (2025)
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ArtistIan Rank-Broadley
Year2025
MediumBronze
SubjectBenjamin Britten
LocationLowestoft, Suffolk
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Websitehttps://www.brittenasaboy.com/

Britten as a Boy is a statue of Benjamin Britten in Lowestoft, Suffolk completed in 2025. It depicts Britten as a teenager looking out to the North Sea, at the age at which his musical talents were first discovered by Frank Bridge[1].

It was sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley, who was chosen due to his excellent previous catalogue of sculpture in the medium of bronze[2].

The statue is situated at Lord Kitchener's Garden in the Kirkley Cliff area of South Lowestoft.[3] It is located close to his childhood home and the school which he had attended as a child. The pose is intended to evoke Britten looking out of his bedroom window, which inspired his work[4].

The campaign to fund the statue began in April 2022.[3] The cost of the statue and its installation was £120,000.[3]

It was unveiled on 10 November 2025 by English composer John Rutter.[5][3]

What Bliss is Home

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A newly composed song "What Bliss is Home"[6], with music by composer Ben Parry and lyrics by Zeb Soanes, was performed at the unveiling ceremony.[3][5] Both composer and lyricist have a link to the county of Suffolk where Britten was born - Parry was born in Ipswich[7], and Soanes in Lowestoft.

File:Britten as a Boy - Plaque.jpg
Plaque accompanying the sculpture, with text after which the composition "What Bliss is Home" was named

References

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