24 February 2017
A sculpture donated to The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) by a former patient has been badly damaged by Storm Doris, which battered the region yesterday.
The sculpture, entitled The Murmur of Voices, was donated by sculptor Tony Roberts for the garden at the Hamar Help and Support Centre at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH).
It was one of two sculptures donated to SaTH by Tony following treatment for a serious illness in 2013. The other has been placed in the garden outside the High Dependency Unit (HDU) at RSH.
Jessica Hancox, Lead Cancer Nurse, with the damaged sculpture
The glass sculpture is made up of two pillars engraved with words taken from snatched conversations between patients who have used the hospital’s services and their loved ones.
Staff at the Hamar Centre this morning discovered that both pillars had been damaged in yesterday’s storms, which brought gusts of up to 80mph to Shropshire.
Jessica Hancox, Lead Cancer Nurse at SaTH, said: “We were devastated when we discovered the damage to the sculptures when we came in this morning.
“This sculpture was much loved by patients and staff alike; and the fact that it was donated by a former patient makes it even worse.
“It is such a shame as when the sun shines on it, it glistens off the statue bringing light to patients during their cancer journey.”
Tony, who is based near Oswestry, said: “It’s a great shame that the sculpture has been damaged by the storm, but I will take a look at what has happened and make a replacement.
The sculpture before it was damaged
“I am very grateful for all the help that the hospital gave me when I was ill, so I am happy to do it. This time I will make the sculpture a bit shorter, so it is less susceptible to weather damage.”
The Hamar Help and Support Centre provides counselling and support services to patients from across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales, with a cancer diagnosis, their family and carers.
The garden at the centre is a quiet space offering opportunity for calm and reflection. The garden extends the ethos of the centre into its outside space. The beautifully maintained garden, with its water feature and summer house, is accessible to all.