Oor memories, your memories, a’body’s memories: One year on, how our favourite son gave Scots a summer to remember*

Charities hail success of fundraiser

Last summer can seem an awful long time ago and an awful lot has happened since.

But, as we inch in and out of lockdown, memories of Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail are reminding fans of a time, just 12 months ago, when we wandered the streets of Scotland’s towns and cities searching for Scotland’s favourite son.

Everyone from Nicola Sturgeon and The Proclaimers to an army of children and their footsore parents enjoyed the nationwide art trail hailing The Sunday Post icon, visiting his 200 specially designed statues and raise a staggering £1.3 million to help Scotland’s sick children.

Victoria Buchanan, from Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We can’t quite believe it has been a whole year since Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail – a phenomenally successful fundraiser that captured the hearts of the Scottish people.”

Kirsten Sinclair, chief operating officer of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Funds raised through the trail have been vital in supporting our life-changing projects at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children and Neonatal Units.”

Paula Cormack, director of fundraising at The ARCHIE Foundation, said :“The Bucket Trail was a massive fundraiser and has enabled us to do so much over the last year to support babies, children and their families.”

Exactly a year after the trail ended and the Wullies disappeared from our streets to be auctioned for the charities supporting Scotland’s children’s hospitals, we catch up with some of the artists, kids and sculptures to find out how.

in hospital or facing personal challenges.

“I decided to put 21 birds on to signify each year of Matthew’s life – and to include Scottish birds from different habitats, from wetlands and sea and coastal birds to birds of prey,” she said. “There’s everything from a magpie and a robin to a golden eagle.”

Lorna, who works with stained glass and watercolours, features British native birds in her work so is amazing at painting them. But for the sculpture, she decided it would work best as a family affair.

The 54-year-old, who lives in Dunning, Perthshire, brought the statue home – and asked Matthew and his sister Fiona to get involved.

“The Oor Wullie moved into the sun room and became part of the family while we painted him,” she laughed. “I remember trying to cover him up with plants when friends came round as we didn’t want people to see the design until it was finished.

“Matthew did the boots, and Fiona painted the little swallows in Wullie’s pocket.”

Then the statue went on display as part of the nationwide fundraiser. “We were sad when he left to go out on the trail, but it was lovely so many people came to see it – and it was sold for £4,400 which was great. The charity helped us so much, we are so grateful we can do something to help other families.”

*Only in a good way

Tom Gilzean statue