Art pupils draw on talent to aid hospice

ARTISTIC students at the Dover Boys' Grammar School have been helping to brighten up the surroundings for youngsters at the Demelza House children's hospice.

Two years ago, boys from the school painted panels with scenes for the children's playroom at the hospice near Sittingbourne. They reflected Demelza's clown logo in a colourful circus setting. Now they have completed a series of murals designed to appeal to the hospice's older guests, and in particular, teenagers.

Helen Carter, the hospice's chief executive, said:, "We offer care to children and young people up to the age of 19.

"Our care team works hard to ensure that the activities we offer cater for the full range of ages and abilities of our young visitors and it is important that this is reflected throughout the hospice.

"Some of the panels have been used in the teenagers' lounge and have really made a difference.

"This room includes darts, pool and other table games as well as a music centre and we encourage the teenagers who stay here to make it their own space.

"The paintings include fast cars, scenes from The Matrix, pop and video scenes and really help bring the room alive and make it feel lived in.

"The boys who painted them are incredibly talented. It wouldn't surprise me if some of them went on to have successful careers as artists.

"We are enormously grateful to them and to the staff at Dover Boys' Grammar School for donating their work to us."

The murals were designed and painted by David Parish, Mark Long, Thomas Reay, Chris Wright, Alex Gough, Chris Tutthill, Kevin Doughty;
Daniel Phelan, Lee Kembrey, Tim Martin, Robert Ashley and Ashley Bostock.

One of the murals was painted by Mrs Francoise Lloyd, subject leader" for  modern languages!

Last Thursday the boy's went to Demelza House to hand over the murals and to meet some of the children and young people being cared for at the hospice.