The statue was erected in secret during the night and 'magically' appeared on 1st May 1912.
There was no publicity before the statue's arrival and on the day, Barrie placed this announcement in The Times:
"There is a surprise in store for the children who go to Kensington Gardens to feed the ducks in the Serpentine this morning. Down by the little bay on the south-western side of the tail of the Serpentine they will find a May-day gift by Mr J.M. Barrie, a figure of Peter Pan blowing his pipe on the stump of a tree, with fairies and mice and squirrels all around. It is the work of Sir George Frampton, and the bronze figure of the boy who would never grow up is delightfully conceived."
For more information see the Kensington Gardens website article:
Peter Pan statue - a piece of Neverland.
