Statue of war hero all ready

Sir Keith Park. Photo / Supplied

A statue of one of our greatest war heroes will be unveiled in London this week - the final step on a rocky road towards its completion.

Coromandel-born Sir Keith Park was nicknamed "the Defender of London" by the Germans for his work commanding the Royal Air Force squadrons that won the Battle of Britain.

Sir Keith was temporarily honoured with a fibreglass statue on the fourth plinth of Trafalgar Square, under the shadow of Nelson's Column.

But on Wednesday - the 70th anniversary of the apex of the Battle of Britain - a permanent bronze statue will be unveiled in nearby Waterloo Place.

The project was marred after Kiwi sculptor Roderick Burgess was dropped, a year into designing and building the statue.

The plan to honour Sir Keith has been spearheaded by London businessman Terry Smith and Kiwi filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson. Partway through, Westminster City Council told them that any piece of public art needed to go through a selection process.

Having been awarded the initial commission, Burgess then found he was listed only in third place in the selection process, and the job was given to British sculptor Les Johnson.

Sir Keith's great nephew, Joseph Gillies, said the issue was "rather embarrassing" and had caused a rift among Park's descendants. "It's still sort of sore with the family."

But Wednesday's unveiling would bring them together again. Gillies said about 80 members of the family would attend the London ceremony.