Wreath, composed almost entirely of artificial materials, hung below bust of Arthur Phillip, St Mary le Bow, Cheapside, City of London, photographed 13 October 2025.

Phillip (1738-1814) was born in Cheapside on 11 October,  baptised at St Mary’s Bread Street, and entered the Royal Navy in 1755.  In 1788 he was appointed first Governor of New South Wales, a post which he occupied until 1792, when ill health forced him to return to Britain.

The bust was originally placed in St Mildred’s Bread Street in 1932. When St Mildred’s was destroyed by bombing in 1941 the bust survived, to be restored and placed in St Mary le Bow in 1992.  It seems that since then a service, during which a wreath is placed below the bust, has become an annual event on the anniversary of Phillip’s birthday.

Thanks to Ross Parish who drew our attention to this custom.