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At the end of 2020, during the COVID 19 Pandemic, I was put on furlough from my day job as a Design Engineer. I took the opportunity to put together a submission pack for the Fosse Foxes Art Trail at Fosse Park West in Leicester. After a bit of a nervous wait, my design was selected for inclusion. The Trail was to feature 25 fox sculptures, with 10 being painted by local artists. My design, 'The Fox in Socks' celebrated Leicester’s diverse cultural mix, the city's hosiery heritage and its beautiful rural setting. He took me 18 six hour days over Christmas and New Year to complete and he was an absolute privilege to do. The trail started in April 2021. The rainbow striped socks, as well as being a nod to Leicester’s hosiery history, were also a reference to the wonderful Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. I had at that time supplied Rainbows as a volunteer with bespoke artwork for many years.
At the start of January 2024, I was told that the Fox in Socks had been removed from the Fosse Park Mall after he’d suffered damage to his paintwork. When I went to take a look, the damage turned out to be minor, so I carefully bundled him into the back of my car and took him home for some TLC. After a good clean and a bit of retouching around the nose and ears (worn due to all the patting) he looked just like new. So of course I got in contact with Rainbows the next day to see if they could give him a home, as a result he will start his new life proudly guarding the entrance to this brilliant hospice very soon. SJP 26-02-2024
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