Hospice welcomes new sculpture

Buy photos » Fund-raising director Tricia Cavell and Sarah Popplestone-Helm, head of the family support team, with the new sculpture which has been loaned to St Richard's Hospice. Picture by Nick Hands 0512030NHR. Order this picture at www.buyphotos247.com

A THOUGHT provoking steel sculpture depicting a family has taken pride of place in the garden of a city hospice.

Malvern-based artist Antony Poels decided to loan the 1.5m high zinc nickel plated sculpture to St Richard's Hospice after he felt moved by the charity's work during a visit.

Sarah Popplestone-Helm, the hospice's head of family support, said: “This is a wonderful and evocative sculpture which I’m sure will be a good talking point for our patients and their families as well as staff and volunteers.

"The family group appears to change depending on where you are standing which makes you pause for thought.”

St Richard’s helped more than 870 individual family members, including children, last year alone through counselling and group work.

Mr Poels, who has been commissioned to create a huge pear tree sculpture by the M5 motorway near Worcester, said: “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to give enjoyment, in particular to an organisation that gives so much to so many."