No man is an island

This is a beautiful new sculpture in St Paul’s Churchyard by Nigel Boonham. The statue fits in very well with the general sprucing up of the landscape to the south of the Cathedral and is a noble addition to an area which is perfect for a sandwich break if you’re tootling around the City (in good weather, of course!).

Donne was Dean of St. Paul’s in the 16th Century and had a fascinating life which included being locked up for eloping with his wife, fighting against the Spanish at Cadiz and of course giving some hell-fire sermons in church.

What he’s most famous for now is his poetry. You may not know his poems individually but many of his phrases have seeped into the everyday fabric of the English language.