OREANDA-NEWS. SCF Sovcomflot (OAO Sovcomflot) is one of three Russian companies to help fund the installation of a statue of Russian space pioneer Yuri Gagarin at the Royal Observatory Greenwich in London. The statue was originally unveiled in 2011 on The Mall in London as part of a series of cultural events to mark the 50th anniversary of the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human to travel in space.

The monument was a gift of the Russian Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) to the British Council, which secured permission for its temporary installation on The Mall, next to the Admiralty Arch. It was here that Gagarin met the British Prime Minister enroute to Buckingham Palace, during his visit to Great Britain in 1961.

Following consultation, the British Council and ROSCOSMOS selected the Royal Observatory Greenwich as the permanent home for the statue. This location acknowledges the link between the Observatory’s centuries old record of astronomical observation, with the first man ever to venture into the heavens.

Elena Gagarina unveiled the statue of her late father today, at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. At the ceremony, speeches were made by: Lord Sterling of Plaistow, Chairman of Royal Museums Greenwich; Vitaly Davydov, State Secretary and Deputy Head of ROSCOSMOS and His Excellency Alexander Yakovenko, the Russian Ambassador to the Court of St James’s in London. SCF Sovcomflot was represented at the event by: David Moorhouse CBE, Independent Director of the Board of OAO Sovcomflot; Lord Fairfax of Cameron, Chairman of Sovcomflot Overseas Holding Corporation and Vladimir Mednikov, Executive Vice-President of OAO Sovcomflot.

Commenting on the event Sergey Frank, President & CEO of OAO Sovcomflot said:

“We are delighted to have supported the installation of Yuri Gagarin’s statue at its new permanent home at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Since medieval times there have been close connections between astronomy and marine navigation, and the Royal Observatory Greenwich played a major role in the development of both sciences. As a shipping company, Sovcomflot welcomes today’s event symbolising the close ties between our two nations, both of which have made a great input in the exploration of the Planet Earth.”

Lord Fairfax, Chairman of Sovcomflot Overseas Holding Corporation:

“Yuri Gagarin was a remarkable man. Sovcomflot is therefore very pleased to have supported the installation of his statue, at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, thereby providing a lasting tribute to his pioneering work.”