Sculpture Benefits Spinal Treatment Centre

10th June 2019

Woolley and Wallis has continued its support of local charity, Horatio's Garden, by sponsoring a series of sculptures for the garden at Salisbury District Hospital.

The links between the Salisbury auction house and the charity, which now boasts Princess Eugenie as its Royal Patron, go deeper than mere financial support, with several members of staff being personally involved in its work in the city. In particular, Dee Montagu-Pollock, who visitors to the saleroom will recognise as a member of viewing staff, has been involved with the charity since it was set up in 2012 and planted the first bulb in the garden at the Spinal Treatment Centre at the city's hospital. Dee continues to work as a volunteer for Horatio's Garden and recently spent a week with the team at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where they raised over £20,000 for the charity's funds. 

The sponsorship of sculpture in the Salisbury garden (the first of the five established gardens that the charity now runs) provides an added interest for patients at the hospital's spinal unit, who have the opportunity to see the works of art erected, to watch the garden grow around them and to see how they change in different weathers and lighting. The current sculpture, on loan from local artist Alexander Macdonald-Buchanan, is titled Energy and its vibrant blue creates a strong impact in the garden currently awash with colourful blooms. Each sculpture spends a period of several months in the garden and is then replaced, allowing longer term patients the opportunity to witness the garden change over the seasons and see how different artworks interact with the plants.

Woolley and Wallis Chairman, Paul Viney, is keen that the company continues its support over the coming years. "Horatio's Garden started life as a relatively small project at our local hospital and over the past seven years it has grown to become a national organisation that is now providing a vital resource to long-term spinal patients across the UK. Volunteers at the Salisbury garden, including Dee, were recently awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and their commitment to the project is highly commendable. I hope we can continue to support them in whatever way we can."

Fore more information on the charity and its work please visit its website here.