VILLAGERS at Wheathampstead, in St Albans
diocese, were devastated when their local, the Swan, was burnt to
the rafters a few weeks ago: "You could feel shock waves going
through the village," one said. The pub is being restored, but, as
happens with building sites, the area was quickly surrounded by
high black hoardings, which were daunting to those entering the
village.
The Priest-in-Charge of St Helen's, the Revd Richard Banham, had
the idea to cover those hoardings in a mural painted by members of
the local community - which should have happened by the time this
page appears. The plan is to feature 11 "Locals painted by locals
for the local", including Cassivellaunus, a British chieftain who
led a defence against the Romans during Caesar's second invasion,
Abbot John of Wheathampstead, John Bunyan, and George Bernard
Shaw.
The mural is being designed by a local artist, Nick Schon (best
known as one of the illustrators for the Oxford Reading Tree books
featuring Biff, Chip, and Kipper), and the drawings are to be
projected on to panels for the volunteers to paint
(pictured). The painted hoardings will stay up until the
Swan is restored, and then the panels will be taken down to be used
as a resource around the village.