FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon was first in line to say ‘cheerio’ to a familiar figure yesterday as she officially launched the Farewell Weekend for Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail.
Visiting the SEC in Glasgow, the First Minister marked the start of a weekend of gatherings across Scotland, designed to give a fitting send off to Scotland’s favourite son, Oor Wullie, who has popped up across the country in various guises throughout the summer as part of the national art trail in aid of Scotland’s children’s hospital charities.
As well as meeting representatives of Bucket Trail beneficiaries, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Event Sponsor Zero Waste Scotland and National Trail Sponsor, Arnold Clark, the First Minister had the chance to hear from the children of Crossbasket Nursery in Blantyre and Lyoncross Nursery in Crookston about their involvement with the trail.
The Farewell Weekend celebrations, sponsored by environmental organisation Zero Waste Scotland, are taking place in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness – the key host cities of the three charities who helped bring Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail to life, with the help of DC Thomson Media and Wild in Art.
Children’s hospital charities Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and The ARCHIE Foundation will each benefit from the weekend of celebrations.
Not only will the events celebrate the success of Scotland’s first ever national public art trail, they will also offer the chance to see the hundreds of colourfully-designed Oor Wullie sculptures – created by some of Scotland’s most noted artists – before they head off under the hammer in aid of each of the charities.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail has been a huge success. The colourful statues of one of Scotland’s cultural icons have become a familiar sight across the country this summer and I am sure I will not be the only person to miss seeing them on our streets.
“It was a pleasure to help celebrate the finale of Scotland’s first ever national public art trail and I hope the farewell events help to raise even more money for children’s hospital charities across the country.”
Roslyn Neely, CEO at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Oor Wullie has taken over the capital this summer and we have been absolutely thrilled by how many people have got involved with the trail.
“We’re so incredibly grateful and we’re very much looking forward to meeting all our ECHC supporters at St Andrew Square over the Farewell Weekend to wish Oor Wullie one final, fond farewell.”
You can see the ‘Capital Wullies’ (above) at St Andrew Square Gardens from 9am – 8pm today and from 9am – 5pm on Sunday.
Shona Cardle, Chief Executive of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We were honoured to be joined by the First Minister to mark the start of the Farewell Weekend events for Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail– which promises to be a fitting farewell to what has been a fantastic summer attraction in cities across the country.
“We are delighted to see that, following the incredible success of the trail in Glasgow, our Farewell Weekend events at the SEC have already sold out. We’d like to thank the Farewell Weekend sponsor Zero Waste Scotland for allowing these events to happen and to the thousands of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity supporters who have registered to join us over the weekend for our special celebrations.
“Thanks to their support, we can continue to ensure young patients and their families at Scotland’s busiest children’s hospital receive the best possible care and experience.”
David Wood, ARCHIE Foundation Chief Executive said: “It has been so much fun having these colourful, inspiring and individual sculptures on the streets of Aberdeen and Inverness/Dundee.
“The trail has brought friends, families, businesses, schools and communities together for a summer we won’t forget. We look forward to seeing everyone enjoying the sculptures one more time before the auctions next week.”
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland said: “The trail has been a defining part of Scotland’s summer and we’re looking forward to giving all the statues a proper send off.
“These Oor Wullie’s will not be going to waste – they will be auctioned to raise money for the vital services delivered by three of Scotland’s most important children’s charities. Zero Waste Scotland is proud to be supporting the Farewell Weekend. We can’t wait to see the statues one last time and to spread the word to the thousands of visitors about how we can all live a more waste-free life.”
Following the Farewell Weekend celebrations, the large Oor Wullie sculptures will go under the hammer – being auctioned off at Dundee Rep Theatre on Monday 16th September, Thainstone Centre Inverurie on Tuesday 17th September, Prestonfield House Hotel on Thursday 19th September and Kelvingrove Art Galleries on Friday 20th September. Each auction will raise vital funds for Scotland’s Children’s Hospital Charities.
For more information on each of the Farewell Weekend events and the subsequent auctions in each city, get in touch on Facebook @OWBIGbuckettrail.
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