Merchant Venturers say ‘it is right for Bristol’ that Colston’s statue was removed

The secretive invitation-only organisation of which Edward Colston was once a member has said it “is right for Bristol” that his statue has been removed from the city.

Until only four years ago, the Society of Merchant Venturers kept Colston’s fingernails and hair on display at their headquarters in Clifton.

Officially founded in 1552, the Merchant Venturers may be descended from a guild of Bristol merchants existing in the 13th century.

Today, the organisation has 70 members – including the vice-chancellor of UWE Bristol, the chief executive of YTL UK and the co-owner of Bristol Port – who have “the aim to make positive and effective change within Bristol”.

Lawyer and nightclub owner Marti Burgess became their first black member earlier this year.

Since the statue of Colston was toppled and thrown into the docks on Sunday, the Merchant Venturers have been criticised for their role in vetoing the words of a new plaque that was due to be out on display on the plinth.

In a statement released on Friday evening from Merchant Venturers treasurer, Caroline Duckworth, she said that it was “inappropriate” for them to get involved in the rewording of the plaque in 2018 “and we have listened to the constructive comments put to us over this past week”.

Duckworth said: “Following the Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol on 7th June, the energy for change across our city continues to grow.

“The statue of Edward Colston was removed from Bristol’s city centre last weekend and the fact that it has gone is right for Bristol.

“To build a city where racism and inequality no longer exist, we must start by acknowledging Bristol’s dark past and removing statues, portraits and names that memorialise a man who benefitted from trading in human lives.

“It was inappropriate for the Society of Merchant Venturers to get involved in the rewording of the Colston statue plaque in 2018 and we have listened to the constructive comments put to us over this past week.

“As we look forward, we are examining our own role within the city, how we collaborate with others and accelerate our part in ensuring that Bristol overcomes inequality and disadvantage wherever it exists.”

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Read more: Proposed wording for plaque on Colston statue revealed

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Duckworth said that the Merchant Venturers are “fully supportive” of Colston’s Girls’ School’s plans – also announced on Friday evening – to conduct a consultation to consider renaming the school, and that they “welcome a new name that accurately reflects the school’s vision and values”; as well as supporting Colston’s School as they also discuss about their name.

She added: “It is inexcusable that racism and inequality still exist today. We share a determination for Bristol to become an inclusive, sustainable and successful city where the place of your birth or the colour of your skin is not an obstacle.”

Merchants’ Hall, the Society of Merchant Venturers’ headquarters in Clifton, used to display Edward Colston’s fingernails and hair until 2016 – photo: Society of Merchant Venturers

These are the current members of the Merchant Venturers:

• Dr Stephen Allpress
• Ross Ancell
• Nick Bacon
• Jonathon Baker
• Nick Baker
• Robert Bernays
• Chris Booy
• Michael Bothamley
• Robert Bourns
• Gail Bragg
• Anthony Brown
• Andrew Brownsword
• Mark Burchfield
• Marti Burgess
• Denis Burn
• Gillian Camm
• Dr Giles Clarke
• Simon Cooper
• Dr Jacqueline Cornish
• Chris Curling
• Alastair Currie
• Rob Davis
• Andrew Densham
• Charles Densham
• Patrick Despard
• Katharine Finn
• Fiona Francombe
• David Freed
• Dr Andrew Garrad
• Colin Green
• Francis Greenacre
• Charles Griffiths
• Nick Hood
• Tom Hood
• Tony Kenny
• John Laycock
• Alan Lewis
• Charles Lucas
• David Marsh
• Laura Marshall
• Geoff Matthews
• Cullum McAlpine
• Dayrell McArthur
• James McArthur
• Peter McCarthy
• Prof Joe McGeehan
• Peter McIlwraith
• David Medlock
• Terence Mordaunt
• Karen Morgan
• Alfred Morris
• Andrew Nisbet
• Sir David Ord
• Stephen Parsons
• Chris Patterson
• Tim Pearce
• John Pontin
• Chris Pople
• David Powell
• Mary Prior
• Peter Rilett
• Tim Ross
• Mohammed Saddiq
• Colin Skellett
• Trevor Smallwood
• Alan Tasker
• Martin Thatcher
• Sir James Tidmarsh
• Karl Tucker
• Edward Ware
• John Watson
• Jonathan Webb
• Prof Steven West
• Sir David Wills
• Moger Woolley
• Andrew Yates

Main photo: Society of Merchant Venturers

Read more: Amazing secrets revealed inside Colston’s statue