Joint statement on the statues of Thomas Guy and Robert Clayton

Update

We have a new statues webpage. Read about the conservation work on statues of two of our benefactors, and our work to better understand and contextualise their histories.

Joint statement

As part of our large art and heritage collection, we own two statues with links to the slave trade. One of Thomas Guy, who profited from investing in the South Sea Company, and the other of Robert Clayton, who was an investor in the Royal Africa Company.

Like many organisations in Britain, we know that we have a duty to address the legacy of colonialism, racism and slavery in our work. We absolutely recognise the public hurt and anger that is generated by the symbolism of public statues of historical figures associated with the slave trade in some way.

We have therefore decided to remove statues of Robert Clayton and Thomas Guy from public view, and we look forward to engaging with and receiving guidance from the Mayor of London’s Commission on each.

We see the pervasive and harmful effects of structural racism every day through our work. Black people have worse health outcomes, and this inequality is one of many ways racism permeates our society. We are fully committed to tackling racism, discrimination and inequality, and we stand in solidarity with our patients, students, colleagues and communities.

We are working with our partners at King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust to organise their removal as soon as possible.

Photo of Thomas Guy’s statue by Ethan Doyle White is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0