The romantic poet is seated in an alcove, salvaged from the old London Bridge, which sits in the grounds of Kings College London.

The statue celebrates the life of the poet who trained as a surgeon-apothecary at Guy’s Hospital from 1815 –16. It was commissioned to commemorate the life of Dr Robert Knight, 1932 – 2005, who also trained and worked at Guy’s. The sculpture was unveiled by the then Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, who has written a biography of Keats.

“… sure a poet is a sage. A humanist, physician to all men.” Fall of Hyperion. A Dream by John Keats

Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity and the Friends of Guy’s Hospital joined forces to commission the statue. The donation from the Friends included gifts from The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, the Keats-Shelley Memorial Fund and many contributions made in memory of Dr Robert Knight.

Find out more about Stuart Williamson here.