Marlborough’s new mayor Edwina Fogg saw double on Monday when she declared open a major self-portrait exhibition by local schoolchildren, staged in the town hall’s Assembly Room to celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
Alongside her was her five-year-old grandson Kit Hodgkinson, now in the reception class at St Mary’s School. And there on display in front of them was Kit’s own portrait of himself, one of some 580 adorning the exhibition.
“It was such fun and so exciting,” the Mayor told Marlborough News Online. “There’s some fantastic talent on show. The portraits are really, really impressive.”
“And they make a truly memorable addition to the diamond jubilee events we have organised in the town.”
A team of 10 helpers led by Juliet Scheepers and Jan Renshaw started preparing for the exhibition – part of a Face Britain initiative across the country — at Christmas by inviting the head teachers at St Mary’s, St Peter’s, Pershute School and St John’s to take part.
“They decided to make it a project for the diamond jubilee celebrations,” said Juliet. “The teaching staff at the schools have been brilliant really in organising it and the pupils have shown some amazing talent drawing and painting their self portraits for the Queen.”
“Some children came in on Monday afternoon and ran up to their portraits and pointed out those of their friends. They were so proud to see their pictures hanging here.”
“They’ve certainly added some colour to the diamond jubilee.”
Some art teachers too have joined in the fun for the Face Britain display, which is on view – entry free – from 3 to 7pm until Friday.
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