Lady in White settled in new home

DURBAN North artist Barbara Siedle this week finalised a project that has seen the city’s famous Lady in White take up permanent residence at the Maritime Museum. Siedle is the sculptor of the two meter high bronze statue of the Lady in White representing Perla Siedle Gibson, a Durban-born soprano who sang to troops.

The statue was previously on T jetty in Durban harbour. The original idea had been to install the Lady in White monument on North Pier where this famous lady stood to sing to thousands and of warships, troopship and hospital ships as they plied their way up and down the East African coast during WWII.

“She sang a welcome and a farewell to everyone involved in the war effort. Most of those in uniform hearing her sing would not have known if they would even come back alive. Money was raised for the Monument mainly by war veterans  who had heard her sing during the war . This was headed by Sam Morley who wrote the book called Durban’s Lady in White,” said Siedle.

She added that in 1995 the statue was unveiled on T jetty  at the old Ocean Terminal where the old Union Castle ships used to dock, because the port authorities had yet to build the new North Pier. The position worked well,and many visiting tourists flocked to see her there, until the new security systems were installed and entry to the port for tourists became almost impossible, or at least very difficult.

“It was because of this increased security in the recent years that the decision was made to move her. North Pier was not an option as it is still far from being opened to the public. So we decided to move her to the Maritime Museum where she has been welcomed and where she will be an added attraction for the museum.”