Michael Foot memorial facts for kids
A memorial to Michael Foot stands in Freedom Fields Park in Plymouth, Devon. Michael Foot was a famous politician born in Plymouth. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth Devonport. He served as an MP from 1945 to 1955. The memorial is right across from the house where he was born.
Who Was Michael Foot?
Michael Foot was an important British politician. He was born in Plymouth in 1913. He became a Member of Parliament, which means he was elected to represent people in the UK government. He was known for his strong speeches and ideas. He believed in a type of politics called democratic socialism. This means he wanted a fairer society where everyone had equal chances. He was also a journalist, writing for newspapers and sharing his views.
A Special Memorial
The memorial for Michael Foot is made of three large granite blocks. The tallest block in the middle has his name and years of life: "Michael Mackintosh Foot 1913–2010". The two smaller blocks next to it can be used as seats. Each of the three blocks has a special word carved into it. These words describe Michael Foot: "orator", "democratic socialist", and "journalist". An "orator" is someone who is very good at giving speeches.
This memorial cost £50,000 to build. People raised all the money through donations. This shows how much people respected Michael Foot and wanted to remember him.
What Happened to the Memorial?
In July 2016, the memorial was unfortunately damaged. Someone drew unpleasant symbols on it. This happened after the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. Michael Foot had been a leader in a similar vote in 1975. In that vote, he wanted the UK to leave the European Economic Community.
