Oor Wullie is class act
Youngsters decorate special statue to be part of art trail around Scotland
The mini cartoon statue was gifted to West Coats Primary School by Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, as P7 pupil Oliver Reilly has had a lot of contact with the city’s Royal Hospital for Children.
P7 kids were challenged by their teacher, Shanua Collins, to come up with designs for their chalk white Oor Wullie statue, which will be among sculptures to be displayed throughout the summer all over Scotland in public locations such as libraries and community centres.
When the ‘Reach for the Stars Wullie’ design was declared the winner, Oliver and his pals set about transforming the statue using blueblack paint to represent the night sky, smattered with star-like glitter.
The nationwide Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail will see life-size Oor Wullies popping up in the five host cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness between June 17 and August 30.
And once the 11-week trail is over, the West Coats Primary statue will be returned to the school as a permanent memento of its involvement in the initiative that will raise funds in support of young hospital patients. Depute head teacher at West Coats Primary, Jackie McInnes, explained: “The Primary 7 children and their class teacher, Miss Collins, thoroughly enjoyed transforming a very pale Wullie into ‘Reach for the Stars Wullie.’
“During this transformation Wullie was minded by the whole school, as they walked past him daily and they were concerned about his whereabouts when he went on his photo call for the Reformer.
“The children are now discussing where Wullie should take up residence in the school when he returns to us after his official duties out and about in Glasgow.”
The statues form part of a wider education programme which focuses on the themes of art, citizenship, communities, and positive mental and physical health.
Funds raised through the trail will support the work of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and the ARCHIE Foundation, helping children in hospitals across the country.
Pat McGowan, a volunteer with the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, paid a visit to West Coats Primary, to remind children at their assembly who Oor Wullie is and to give an informative talk about the Royal Hospital for Children and the work of the charity.
To celebrate the exciting trail, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity’s annual sponsored walk on August 10 has a new route which will take participants through Glasgow’s West End for the Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail.
Organisers promise walkers will have bucket loads of fun as they make their way round Kelvingrove Park, spotting spectacular life-size Oor Wullie sculptures and fundraising for young patients.
Participants can choose from a 3k or 10k route suitable for all ages and abilities, so everyone can get involved with scouting out Oor Wullie.
Once they reach the finish line, they will earn a medal and have the chance to enjoy all of the super entertainment at the family fun day event.
Register by visiting www.oorwullie. com.
Once you have signed up, you will receive a fundraising pack with everything you need to get started, including your own charity t-shirt.
Wullie was minded by the whole school daily