Catherine Lee to Visit New Zealand and Reconnect with Childhood Sculpture

Catherine Lee, a 68-year-old British woman, is set to visit New Zealand for the first time this month, with a highlight of her trip being a visit to the Dunedin Botanic Garden on January 31, 2024. During this visit, she will encounter a bronze statue that pays homage to her childhood role as Wendy Darling in the iconic J.M. Barrie story, represented in the sculpture titled Wendy and her Attendants.

The statue was commissioned by the Dunedin Botanic Garden and crafted by renowned British sculptor Sir Cecil Thomas OBE in 1967. This piece followed the installation of another of Sir Cecil’s notable works, Peter Pan, nearby in 1963. Both sculptures were made possible through a generous donation from local resident Harold Richmond.

As a child, Lee posed for Sir Cecil Thomas in his studio, a place filled with artistic energy located at Dora House in South Kensington, London. She recalls balancing on a stepladder to simulate Wendy in flight, an experience she describes as “incredibly exciting.” Lee’s father discovered an advertisement seeking child models, leading to her involvement with the celebrated sculptor.

“I was the right age and had a long plait and somewhat cherubic face, which suited the character well,” Lee noted. She visited the studio every Wednesday afternoon after school, positioning herself to capture the essence of her character. Although she did not meet the boys who modeled Wendy’s brothers, Michael and John, or the dog, Nana, she remembers the process as a successful collaboration.

In addition to creating the statue, Sir Cecil often took Lee around his garden to showcase his other works in progress, including a half-finished bust of Queen Elizabeth II. “He told me I was even more important than her — as my statue was taking precedence,” she recalled.

Most of Lee’s life has been spent in London, with brief periods in Oxford, Sussex, and Florence, Italy. In Florence, she was actively involved in running an opera company and organizing several summer music festivals. Upon returning to the UK, Lee shifted her focus to a career in the British Civil Service, where she specialized in justice and constitutional policies. She eventually became the director-general in charge of policy at the Ministry of Justice and was awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in 2012 for her services to justice, receiving the honor from the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles III.

Lee expresses her excitement about visiting New Zealand, stating, “Of course, I will be making a pilgrimage to see the statue. I am very much looking forward to seeing the statue in the setting of the beautiful Dunedin Botanic Garden. It has been a lifetime dream.”

In addition to her personal visit, the Dunedin Botanic Garden is planning to host a public talk featuring Catherine Lee and other guests on February 1, 2024. Further details will be shared on the garden’s official Facebook page, inviting the community to engage with Lee and celebrate the history of the sculptures that connect her to her childhood.