New Jenny Lind sculpture in Rosebank Gardens, Malvern

Nicknamed "The Swedish Nightingale" opera singer Jenny Lind lived in the town in the 1880s, spending her final years there after a life spent singing around the world.

Now, a sculpture in her honour has been unveiled in Rosebank Gardens in the centre of Malvern.

It had been due for its unveiling back in 2020, but the Covid pandemic derailed the planned celebrations of the 200th anniversary of her birth.

A group from Stockholm attended the ceremony, and on behalf of Malvern Town Council, mayor of Malvern Cllr Nick Houghton, welcomed the guests and visitors. 

READY: The Jenny Lind sculptured (Image: NQ)

Dr Inga Lewenhaupt, former chair of the Jenny Lind Society of Sweden, unveiled the sculpture, which was made by Andrew Findlay, a blacksmith from Eastnor and funded by the society along with Jenny Lind's great great great granddaughter Miranda Sinyard and the Autumn in Malvern Festival.

In an unexpected and moving gesture, the Swedish party sang a traditional folk song, beloved by Jenny Lind.

In the afternoon, the Swedish guests attended a sell-out concert in Little Malvern Priory entitled 'Homage to Jenny Lind', part of the Autumn in Malvern Festival. 

Jenny Lind was born in Sweden in 1820 and her career took her around the world, including a 93-show run with PT Barnum's touring group, taking in the United States, Cuba and Canada between 1850 and 1852.

SINGER: Jenny Lind. Pic. Jenny Lind Society (Image: Jenny Lind Society)

In 1843 she met the writer Hans Christian Andersenm who fell in love with her.

The feelings were not returned, but it is believed his subsequent stories The Ugly Duckling, The Angel and The Nightingale were all inspired by her.

In 1883 she moved to Malvern, where she lived near Wynds Point with her husband Otto Goldschmidt.

She retired from singing after one final charity concert at the Royal Malvern Spa.

She died from cancer in 1887 and she and Otto are both buried in Great Malvern Cemetery.