THE artistic work of two eminent men with Worcester connections was about to take shape as a permanent feature in front of Buckingham Palace at this time a century ago.

The Journal for this week of 1903 reported: "On Tuesday morning, at the Buckingham Palace end of the Mall, a mysterious circle was marked out, its centre 200ft from the palace.

"It was the beginning of the initial stage in the erection of the Victoria Memorial. This initial stage consists of the levelling of a semi-circular plot, 600ft in diameter, the centre of which is to be occupied by Mr Brock's monument. In addition to the seated bronze figure of the Queen, there will be some 25 marble figures and groups, and Mr Aston Webb's architectural scheme embraces a balustrade to mark off the semi-circle which encloses fountains, grass plots, carriage drives and footpaths. Both sculptor and architect have close associations with Worcester."

Sir Thomas Brock, as he became, was born in Worcester in 1847, the son of a city decorator and contractor. He started out as an apprentice artist modeller at the Worcester Royal Porcelain Works but later entered the Royal Academy Schools. He became one of the nation's leading sculptors and was made a Freeman of Worcester in 1913.

Architect Sir Aston Webb (1849-1930) married a city girl and had several commissions in and around the city including the design of St George's Church in Barbourne and what is now the Worcester Angel Centre on the corner of Angel Place and The Butts. At national level his work includes the designs for the front of Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch and the faade of the Victoria and Albert Museum.