Plans to honour Derby hero Ernest Townsend with new city centre statue or mural

There are new plans to honour a Derby “hero” with a new statue or mural in the city centre. Ernest Townsend disguised Derby’s Rolls-Royce factory roof as houses during the Second World War to prevent aerial attacks.

His heroic actions helped save many lives and the city of Derby. He has been labelled “one of the greatest Derbions who ever lived”.

Mr Townsend lived between 1880 and 1944 and worked as an artist. By using painting techniques, he cleverly set out to make the factory’s glass roofs appear, from the air, like semi-detached houses to protect it from being destroyed.

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Earlier this year it was reported how there were plans for the chamber inside the Derby City Council house to be named after Mr Townsend. But this didn’t materialise after a debate was heard at a meeting in March.

Derby City Council leader Nadine Peatfield has said discussions between the former council leader Baggy Shanker and a representative of Mr Townsend’s family took place after the meeting. She added there was a consensus that Mr Townsend’s contribution to Derby’s history “would be better commemorated via a permanent artistic installation as part of the wider cultural regeneration of the city centre”.

It is unclear at this stage whether this installation would be a statue or mural of some kind. But the council said it is committed to deliver a fitting tribute to Mr Townsend.

When asked for an update on the situation, Councillor Peatfield said: “The former leader of the council met with a representative of Ernest Townsend’s family earlier in the year to discuss the proposal to rename the council chamber. Whilst the recognition of Townsend’s legacy by the council was warmly welcomed, it was felt by the family that his contribution to Derby’s history would be better commemorated via a permanent artistic installation as part of the wider cultural regeneration of the city centre.

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“The administration remains committed to identifying a suitable opportunity to recognise Townsend’s achievements and will seek to work with partners to deliver this.”

Derby resident Kalwinder Singh Dhindsa has been calling for Mr Townsend to be honoured. Mr Dhindsa, who has researched Mr Townsend’s work and liaised with his family, asked council leaders to explore options which began the process.

Mr Dhindsa said he was pleased the council was committed to working on a fitting tribute. He said: “Having read the council's response I do feel a little bit more confident now, that something will finally be done to honour our hero.

“I'm quite happy to work with the council to produce the best possible tribute to pay homage to one of Derby's greatest ever champions. A legacy that must never be forgotten.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has also approached a member of Ernest Townsend’s family for comment.

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