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Little support for Burgh Island pirates By Daniel Clark, local democracy reporter 13 objections to statue
Objections have been raised against plans for a statue of two real-life female ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’ overs fears it would glamorise violent criminals who contributed nothing to the local heritage.
Plans were announced last month for 2.4 metre tall sculptures of two of Britain’s forgotten pirates, Anny Bonny and Mary Read, to be installed at Burgh Island.
The pair wreaked havoc throughout the Caribbean in the early 1700s. Some historians have claimed the women became lovers, while others suggest they formed a three-way relationship with Anne’s husband, the English pirate captain Jack Rackham – more commonly known as Calico Jack.
Statue of pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read is proposed at Burgh Island, Devon
Locals have argued tributes to the pilchard industry would be more appropriate
Other residents suggested a statue of a fisherman s wife would be more fitting
Bigbury Parish Council had 13 objections and voted unanimously against statue
Anne Bonny and Mary Read were infamous pirates hanged in the Caribbean
Princess Yachts and Babcock back bid for Plymouth to become a freeport
It would see the city benefit from a post-Brexit economic boost said to be worth £35million
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BBC News
By Jonathan Morris
image captionHow the pirates would look perched on the rocks of Burgh Island
Plans for a statue of two female pirates thought to have been lovers have been rejected by a parish council.
The statue of 18th Century pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read is proposed for beauty spot Burgh Island in south Devon.
The pirate pair, cast in concrete and looking out to sea, would enhance the area, say supporters.
Others say a tribute to the local pilchard industry or a fisherman s wife would be more appropriate.
image copyrightGetty Images
image captionAnne Bonny and Mary Read: A statue remembering the pair is stirring up controversy in Bigbury