TOWN’S AMAZING TRIBUTE TO LITTLE GIRL WHO STOLE EVERYONE’S HEART
A BANDSTAND in Hinckley has become a shrine to a seven-year-old girl who inspired an artistic phenomenom that reached all corners of the globe.
Isla Tansey died at home on July 10 with her parents, Simon and Katherine, and brother Harrison by her side after her battle with a spinal tumour, at the age of seven.
Isla, who was nicknamed Isla Smiley, inspired people around the world to paint and hide stones and then post pictures of them online for her to see. Anyone finding them was encouraged to hide them again for someone else to find.
Pebbles were painted and hidden in all seven continents, with one placed by researchers at the South Pole, and a dedicated Facebook group reached more than 68,500 members.
Thousands of stones have now been laid at a memorial in the bandstand in Argents Mead, where Isla used to enjoy dancing with her family, along with balloons and flowers.
Several of the tributes were unicornthemed and many Facebook users have changed their profile photos to pictures of the mystical animal, one of Isla’s favourites.
Isla’s mum Katherine posted on the #islastones group: “We all miss Isla so much, our lives will never be the same with out her, we are devastated because she was so truly amazing, beautiful and loved so much. We went to Isla’s bandstand in Hinckley and we are so overwhelmed and felt so much love.
“Harrison, our beautiful little man, has been so amazing, he was there for his sister right until the end and has been so awesome since.”
Isla had a Stage 4 diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a tumour which normally develops in the brain.
She had an operation in September 2017 which left her unable to feel her lower body and the growth continued to develop afterwards.
The colourful stones were found and then rehidden in parks and other places in Hinckley, Burbage and Barwell, with designs including lizards, bees, butterflies, as well as patterns, hearts and glitter decorations.
Other pebbles were placed as far afield as Mexico, Thailand and Canada, reaching more than 90 countries.
On Monday, people gathered at the bandstand for an Art in the Park day where people decorated stones together.
Hayley Whittle posted a Facebook comment about the bandstand that said: “It takes your breath away.
“You feel so much love when you’re there, it’s sad but lovely all at the same time.”