Tag: art

Remembrance Day display in Cowplain

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Thanks to the creativity of local school children, artwork is on display in a funeral branch’s window to recognise the importance of Remembrance Day.

More than 60 children aged nine and ten helped to draw, colour and craft artwork for the window at The Co-operative Funeralcare – Cowplain.

Funeral Co-ordinators, Jackie Duthie and Lesley Alison, contacted St Peter’s Primary School, in Waterlooville, in the hope they would be able to add some meaning to their window for this year’s Remembrance Day.

Arts Teacher Nina Pearson was more than happy to get involved and each child in Year Five received an invitation stating they had been commissioned to do a piece of artwork.

Each piece of artwork includes a red poppy and was influenced by the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae.

Nina said: “It’s important to talk about this commemorative event and our history, otherwise we just get caught up in the current moment. This makes you think about the sacrifices which were made.

“We might think we have a few liberties being taken away from us right now but look at the sacrifices that were made 100 years ago.”

The artwork is currently on display in London Road at the funeralcare branch which is part of Southern Co-op – the regional, independent co-operative.

Oil and chalk pastels, pens and colouring pencils were all used in the creation of the display alongside coloured cellophane.

Funeral Co-ordinator Lesley said: “Doing the Remembrance window display is very important to us and we thought it would be lovely for one of our local schools to help us.

“We would like to thank each and every child who took part. They have helped to strengthen the importance of Remembrance Day and we have been really impressed with everything they have created.”

Funeral Co-ordinator Jackie said: “We need to keep the younger generation involved as it is very important for them to remember our past, present and future military personnel and what they have sacrificed for us and what they will sacrifice for us in the future. This should never be forgotten and we should always remember them with great pride.”

Southern Co-op’s colleagues will be marking the important day with a minute’s silence including at its local retail stores.

Bus of ‘Hope’ gets a new look

Posted on by ashleymarsh

A lick of paint has transformed a community bus in Southwick thanks to a talented funeral co-ordinator.

Answering an animal call for help, Thomas Parfitt from The Co-operative Funeralcare in Frome spent five days transforming the bus at Hope Nature Centre in Southwick.

The bus, which had been generously donated by the More Bus Group, is now adorned with animals of all shapes and sizes and will be used at the centre as part of its work to train people with learning disabilities in animal care and catering skills.

The bus will be converted into a venue for school groups and birthday parties and an events space for the nature centre and its customers.

Thomas said: “One of my colleagues knew about my passion and forwarded me the appeal for an artist. The funeral home where I work is part of a regional co-operative, Southern Co-op, which has a whole programme dedicated to supporting local communities so it wasn’t hard to persuade my colleagues to donate £300 for the materials and paint.

“As soon as I got the green light, on my days off, I started painting. I used all the animals that are in the farm as references and popped a cartoon twist on them. It’s all painted using spray paints – no brushes or pens.

“The bus is now stood as the Hope Hub – an area that is going to be used as an information and learning tool. It is really great to make such a difference to the centre and those who use it.”

The added space is expected to have a huge impact on the local schools and communities, and a programme of events and activities planned for 2019.

Director of HR at Hope Nature Centre, Clair Beaty-Pownall, said: “We were incredibly grateful for the donation of the bus to Hope Nature Centre and we are delighted that it has been completely transformed.

“After securing funding to have the interior stripped we then needed an exterior ‘make over’. The bus now looks amazing and we know that it will have a very positive impact, not only on the centre, but on the local community, who will be able to enjoy this exciting additional space for many years to come!”

Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ addresses four key social themes – promoting greener, healthier, safer, and more inclusive neighbourhoods.

To find out more about ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’, click here.

Easter artwork celebrated in Frimley

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Colourful and meaningful drawings will be proudly displayed in Frimley Green’s village centre to celebrate all things Easter.

Over the last few weeks, children at Frimley C of E Junior School have been hard at work creating pictures for this year’s Easter Artwork Competition.

Judged by the school’s head teacher and The Co-operative Funeralcare in Frimley, the winning entries will now be proudly displayed in branch until Easter.

Lorraine Paice, Funeral Co-ordinator at the new branch at no.3 Wharf Road, said: “We opened our doors on 7 January and it is great to have got involved in the local community so quickly.

“Our branch is part of the regional, independent co-operative – Southern Co-op – so we have a commitment to make a difference in our local areas.

“Over the last few weeks I have helped the head of Year 4 organise the competition and had the pleasure of choosing the winning entries and presenting certificates to them at a special assembly last Friday along with some special eggs for prizes.”

The winning artists visited the new branch on Wednesday along with the Vice Chair of the Frimley Business Association Sarah Croke.

Lorraine said: “We began with a tour and then lots of questions about my job and funerals, they were all very impressed with the branch and said how bright and cheerful it was and how nice it smelt. They had a great time, very inquisitive and really brightened my day.

“Much to their delight I had also organised some Easter cakes, drinks and sweets. Before leaving the children presented me with copies of their wonderful artwork which will be proudly displayed in the branch for all to see.”

Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ addresses four key social themes – promoting greener, healthier, safer, and more inclusive neighbourhoods.

To find out more about ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’, click here.