Sir David Amess: Basildon Waymade founder funding statue

Dr Patel had met Sir David a number of times and wanted to be involved in the memorial to him in any way possible.  

He has now stumped up £48,000 for the statue, which will create a lasting memorial for the politician, who died on October 15, 2021.

He says he is delighted his pharmaceutical career has enabled him to thank the “decent human being Sir David was”.

Kind - Dr Vijay Patel (Image: Dr Vijay Patel)

Since December last year, sculptor Andrew Lilley, 70, began creating a life-sized bronze statue of Sir David Amess, which was originally supposed to cost about £37,000.

A fundraising campaign spearheaded by Southend West MP Anna Firth, had been looking to generate £48,000 for the statue. 

After Dr Patel, who runs a pharmaceuticals company in Basildon, was approached, he agreed to stump up the full amount.

 The statue could be unveiled on March 26 on what would have been Sir David’s 71st birthday.

Statue - Sir David Amess (Image: Andrew Lilley)

Dr Patel, who started his career running a pharmacy in Elm Road, Leigh, said: “I met David a couple of times, and he was such a warm, friendly and dedicated constituency servant that always wanted the best for the people he represented.

“When I heard the awful news that he was no longer with us, I, like many others, was shocked that an innocent human being was just taken away.

“Months later, I was at a Little Havens charity event, and a lady approached me saying a statue in Southend could be a fitting tribute, and I thought it was a great idea.

“Last week, Anna approached me and said about possibly supporting her fundraising campaign, and I said: ‘Send me the invoice, and I’ll process it,' because this is my way of thanking him for everything he did.

“Although a location hasn’t been set, it’s hoped it’ll be unveiled on March 26, and then many others can also pay their respects and thank the Southend champion.”

Dr Patel has firm roots in Leigh and Southend as in 1975, he opened Chemy’s pharmacy, in Elm Road.

It then went on to become an institution with a chain of more than 20 branches, for which he says was “only thanks to the sheer support of the community”.

In 1989, his Basildon pharmaceuticals business Waymade, now in Monarch House, in Miles Gray Road, was launched and has been going from strength to strength ever since, with trade across the UK and worldwide.

Reflecting on Sir David’s success as an MP, it makes Dr Patel feels “so proud to be able to call him one of my MPs” and adds he is delighted his pharmaceutical career has enabled him to thank the “decent human being Sir David was”.

Sir David's successor Anna Firth said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Dr Vijay Patel OBE is funding the Sir David statue.

"It is an incredibly kind and extremely generous donation, and I am so grateful to him for allowing Sir David's legacy to continue to inspire the people of Southend.

"The statue is truly beautiful and captures Sir David's personality, kindness and commitment."