NB Our target has gone down thanks to recent grant awards.

Hidden behind hoardings for more than two decades a fascinating piece of the heritage of Finchley is at risk, the memorial to Major John Cartwright.

Major John Cartwright was born on 28 September 1740 and died on 23 September 1824. He was a political reformer and radical spokesman of national importance who is known as the Father of Reform having championed universal suffrage (very apposite in this year of commemoration of women’s suffrage) and the introduction of secret ballots. He also founded the Society for Constitutional Information.

Although he is not so well known today his ideas contributed to a century of social and political change. It was not only his thinking that was important, the way he conducted himself made him a model of good political debate. He was noted for his generosity to all people and his lack of self-interest, qualities that are still of immense value. Contemporary accounts refer to his "unceasing benevolence and affectionate disposition", his "public integrity and uprightness". His qualities of character were praised by Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States of America. Indeed it is a measure of the high regard in which he was held by his contemporaries that his memorial was funded through public contributions rather as an act of private glorification.

With substantial support from Historic England we hope to reinstate the memorial, which was dismantled for safety reasons in 2008, later this summer. We are aiming to raise up to £10000 locally as John Cartwright is an important part of our local heritage as well as being a significant figure in our national story. We have now received grants from ChurchCare and St Mary's Trust so our target is now just £1000!