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The sculpture depicts dockers at work as goods are moved from a hoist to a sack barrow. The three figures are modelled on real people - John Ringwood pushing the barrow, Patrick Holland shown as the tally clerk, and Mark Tibbs kneeling.

Ringwood, who initiated the idea of the statue, was among dozens of former dock workers who attended the ceremony, along with Newham councillors and VIPs.

At 9ft high, the work is one of the largest figurative sculptures in London. More than £250,000 was raised to pay for it, the most high-profile contributor being the Queen Mother, who felt a special affection for East Enders.

This is one of the statues 'collected' by in their interesting piece about working class statues, though they left out the Three Printers.

Figures in the Mile End mural are based on this statue. Though in the mural the tally clerk is shown as a black man.