Richard Batson

Young artist’s mural turns hospital brick wall into a wildlife wonderland

30th March 2021 by Richard Batson

A dull brick wall at the hospital has been transformed into an idyllic rural river scene by a talented young artist.

Sophie Cane’s mural is brightening the outlook for patients, staff and visitors.

But her biggest work yet will also help launch her art career having just been awarded a Master’s degree with merit in communication design from the Norwich University of the Arts, following an earlier BA in illustration.

The 8ft by 6ft picture shows water, woodland, and flowers, with cut-out creatures from a kingfisher and heron to butterflies and bees, added to literally add another dimension.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital mural by Sophie Cane — Kingfisher

It has been mounted on a plain brick wall at the hospital where the Friends responded to staff pleas to improve the boring view. The Friends appealed for local artists and chose Sophie, 23, from Litcham near Dereham, who has spent countless hours on the project since finishing her degree.

She said: “Before the latest lockdown I drove around the area and took pictures of places so the work reflected the local countryside. The water is based on Ebridge Mill, but I also went to Captain’s Pond at Westwick and Little London.

“It has been a challenge – because it is by far the biggest piece I have ever done, but I am really pleased with it, and hopes it shows that my work can by scaled up to give a big impact.”

Sophie did the work in the paint shop of her gunstock maker dad Gary, using acrylic vinyl scenery paint on marine plywood. She is hoping to find work doing murals, or larger scale art – in contrast to the smaller nature-themed jewellery and pet portraits she sells online at Etsy.

Hospital Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We are delighted with the mural Sophie has done for us. It really brings a piece of local countryside into the hospital, and is much more pleasant to look at than bricks and mortar.

“Sophie approached the project with energy and enthusiasm, and if it helps showcase her talent to kick-start her art career that will be a bonus.”

The Friends paid for the mural project using their funds which come from public donations and legacies which provide “extras” at the hospital. They have also included weekly goody parcels to boost the morale of staff working long shifts in full protective gear during the Covid crisis.

See more of Sophie’s work at www.sophiecaneillustration.com

We wish her well in her career.

Supermarket gift helps hospital staff goody drops finale

11th March 2021 by Richard Batson

Local supermarket Sainsbury’s have helped the Friends round off a series of morale-boosting goody parcels to hospital staff.

The Friends have been delivering food, drink and treats to hospital staff to help them through long and arduous shifts at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now hospital cases are reducing, and North Walsham is no longer the main Norfolk community hospital for recovering Covid patients, the parcels have been wound down.

But not before Sainsbury’s supported the effort with a donation of vouchers, which helped buy food and coffee for the parcels.

The vouchers were part of a range of donations which Sainsbury’s gave to support local causes and charities whose fundraising and community work had been hit by the Covid crisis. (Felicity Christian from the store is pictured with the vouchers.)

The parcels have cost the Friends £2500, using money donated by the public towards our aims of supporting the staff and patients with “extras” the health authorities cannot afford or which would have to wait to come to the top of a hard-pressed spending list.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis (pictured on an earlier goody run) said: “We know the weekly drops have been appreciated by the staff, and we are grateful for Sainsbury’s donation to help with them.

“We will now be talking to health officials and staff about reviving the wish list of schemes for the future.

“But we could not carry out our work without the funds donated by the community from private individuals to big companies.”

Final pieces of old hospital to be demolished

2nd March 2021 by Richard Batson

The last bit of “old hospital” is about to disappear in the coming weeks – with the demolition of the redundant mortuary, generator room and garage on the driveway into the unit.

But the Friends are working with officials and contractors to save the cross and a stained glass building that hark back to the original hospital’s opening in 1924.

The aim is to incorporate them into a feature somewhere in the grounds.

All three buildings have been without power and services since the old hospital was demolished in 2011, and have fallen into disrepair with crumbling brickwork and failing roofs.

The hospital authorities say the buildings contain asbestos. So, as they deteriorate, there is a danger of collapse and asbestos becoming exposed to the public.

The options were either to repair – which was financial unviable because of no modern day use – or to demolish, which was given planning permission in December with no objection from the town council.

Work clearing the asbestos will happen this week, followed by demolition which should take another two weeks.

The Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust which runs the hospital has longer term plans to use the sites for extra space for the community nursing and social services teams – but the project is not currently in any future spending programme.

The Friends are aware of public concern about the loss of the buildings which have been posted on social media.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “Of course it is sad to see historic buildings go, which is why we have asked for the cross and window to be saved. But we also have to look to the future and providing facilities for the hospital’s modern day roles and patients. “

Friends’ festive treats for hospital patients and staff

23rd December 2020 by Richard Batson

They’ve been! Hospital Friends have made their traditional visit to hand over festive gifts to patients and staff.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Friends 2020 Christmas gifts — *Keith and Zana Jarvis with some of the Friends’ festive gifts for patients.*

But due to Covid restrictions things were a different this year. We normally visit the ward and hand over the presents personally to those being cared for, and the staff looking after them.

This time we had to do a “doorstep delivery” and leave staff to safely distribute the treats which include puzzle books, chocolates, biscuits, shower gels and soap.

And we also left hampers for the staff – both those on the ward, which is now dealing entirely with recovering Covid patients, and rest of the hospital, which continues to do out-patient clinics.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We are missing not meeting the patients this year, which is always a rewarding and poignant highlight of the year.

“But it was more important that the presents were delivered so that those unfortunate enough to be spending Christmas in a hospital bed know that people, other than their families, are thinking of them.”

And this year the staff were more deserving than ever of the hampers after long shifts working in full PPE.

Ward sister Kerry Howarth said: “The patients always enjoy the Friends’ gifts, but this year even more so because they cannot have any visitors due to Covid.

“The staff are also working extra hours, so the hampers are a real morale booster.”

The Friends were also unable to provide the annual carol singing visit by the Broadland Youth Choir this year, but hope that by next Christmas their festive visits will be back to normal.

We are continuing to support the staff through the testing times of the pandemic with weekly goodie parcels to boost their morale. But we can only buy such “extras” thanks to the support of public donations.

To find out more about the Friends and how to support us please explore this website.

Sophie chosen for hospital wall art project

8th December 2020 by Richard Batson

Young artist Sophie Cane has designs on a hospital wall that will make the view better for patients.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital mural artist Sophie Cane — *Mural artist Sophie Cane*

The 23-year-old has been chosen by the Friends of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital to create a colourful mural to brighten up a plain brick wall outside a ward window. She was selected from more than 20 artists who showed interest in the project following an appeal by the Friends.

Art student Sophie from Litcham near East Dereham is finishing her Masters degree at Norwich University of the Arts having already graduated with a BA in illustration.

Sophie is a former pupil at Litcham High School, and initially did a BTec in art and design at the College of West Anglia in King’s Lynn.

She said: “I am looking forward to starting this exciting project as soon as my Masters is complete this month. It will feature a nature theme, because it helps with wellbeing and will draw on local features such as rivers, meadows and kingfishers which I am researching.”

Sophie has done “public” work before including a sign for sheep milking at Bircham Windmill near King’s Lynn, as well as an academic project to design animal shaped waymarkers for Pensthorpe nature park.

She has also worked with the Broads Authority on desktop designs for a revamp of Acle station including a community garden which won a Royal Society of Arts design award last year.

A kingfisher by Sophie Cane

Wildflower meadow artwork by Sophie Cane.

Sophie will paint the 8ft wide by 6ft tall mural in her studio over winter ready for installation in the spring.

The bare wall that Sophie’s mural will transform.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: ”We are delighted to be working with Sophie on this project. She was among 20 entries that followed our appeal for artists to help. We were impressed with her ideas and enthusiasm and also hope it will help Sophie as she embarks on her career in the art world.”

For updates on the project follow the Friends’ Facebook page and this website.

Explore Sophie’s work on her website

Young artist’s mural turns hospital brick wall into a wildlife wonderland

Supermarket gift helps hospital staff goody drops finale

Final pieces of old hospital to be demolished

Friends’ festive treats for hospital patients and staff

Sophie chosen for hospital wall art project

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