Community art project to commemorate Captain Sir Tom Moore

Date Added: 18/01/2022

Local school children to help with artwork

A new piece of art is set to honour Captain Sir Tom Moore, featuring artwork by local children and cards he received for his 100th birthday.

Captain Sir Tom lived in Marston Moreteyne and captured the support of the nation when he walked 100 laps around his garden during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, raising almost £40million for the NHS. His fundraising led to a knighthood, and on his 100th birthday he received around 160,000 cards from well-wishers.

Artist Sophie Gresswell will create a portrait of Captain Sir Tom on a rainbow backdrop – a nod to the rainbow symbolism used throughout the pandemic – made up of smaller pieces of artwork including a selection of the birthday cards and art by the children from the school.

Sophie will lead workshops over four days at the school to help the children at Marston Moreteyne VC Lower School create their own abstract art pieces inspired by Captain Sir Tom’s legacy, his birthday cards and their own experiences of people who helped and inspired them throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. All the children at the school will be involved, with a selection of their work set to be included in the final piece.

The final artwork will be displayed indoors at the Forest Centre in the Millennium Country Park in Martson Moreteyne later in the year. The project has been funded by grants from Central Bedfordshire Council Ward Members and the Forest of Marston Vale Community Fund.