A stunning mural of local heroes and global icons at a school in Wigan has left children inspired. Olympian Keely Hodgkinson is the latest to be added to the wall of icons at Platt Bridge Community School following her efforts in the World Championships and Commonwealth Games.
Joining fellow Wiganer Ella Toone and her Lioness teammate Beth Mead, the three women are among Albert Einstein, J.K Rowling and Martin Luther King. This mural looks to inspire the children to be whatever they want - and how being from Wigan should not deter them from doing that.
Scott Wilcock, from Snow Graffiti, has been into the school on a number of occasions to add to the mural as well as create portraits in the hall and give lessons to the children.
The mechanic-turned street artist has proved a big hit with the kids in summer school who say they want to be like him in the future. After 17 years of his old job, a Christmas snow spray piece two years ago suddenly pulled him into the street artist life and he has not looked back since.
“The kids kept talking about the Lionesses and Keely so we just went with that,” he said. “It was strange at first [showing the children how to do it] because not many people are into airbrushing but when I got them and showed them how to do it they were saying ‘I want to be an airbrusher when I am older’ which I have never heard before.
“It makes me feel proud, who wouldn’t be. It is brilliant to do this, I get asked all the time to do things around here and it is the best feeling ever.
“I love the detail as the painting spray cans you can’t get the detail and I love that detail to make it as close to the image as possible. I am very happy with it at the minute,
“Now it is nearly finished, I am buzzing and I am really happy with myself.”
The children themselves have been assessing the mural, and it is still bringing back memories of that 2-1 win over Germany in the Euros last month.
Tommy Shenean, 9, said: “I was shocked, I didn't think we would beat Germany. It [the mural] makes me feel good that she lived near me.
“It makes me think that I could be up there one day. I can’t draw but I can do football, if I were to be on the wall that is what it would be for.”
Elly Grimes, 8, said: “I feel shocked by the mural because it is really good. It makes our school better.
“The people there are really good at what they do. We did the spray paint with Scott.
“He was a really good teacher. I really like the two girls because they are great at sports.”
One gymnastics enthusiast was hoping to follow in Keely’s footsteps and has her sights set on the medals.
Lily Finch, 9, a hopeful Olympian, said: “I think it is inspiring. When England won the Euros it was brilliant.
“Me and my dad were shocked. I don’t think I could be a footballer or a runner but I could be a gymnast.
“I would like to go to the Olympics and do my cartwheels.”
The school brought Scott in to help give the children something more creative to try and inspire them. He created a large piece on Walt Disney last year which was so impressive they kept inviting him back.
The school wants to give the children a boost in every way possible and they have taken to Scott well - constantly asking him questions. This is an aspect of the work in the school that he has really enjoyed and what keeps him coming back for more.
Carla Thomas, senior leader at Platt Bridge Community School: “This is so different from anything else we normally do. This gives the children a wider experience and not just the academic side.
“It was something they have never seen before in such a positive way. It can help them with their school work by helping them continue to strive in every area possible and so it is not just that academic side.
“Using the different key figures it shows you can be successful in all different areas, it doesn’t have to be just English or maths. It was hard to whittle it down to this amount of people.
“We try to make sure we are focusing on people children can relate to but then broadening their horizons as well. Just because we are from a small area of Wigan it doesn;t mean we can’t achieve things like they did.
“We do a lot of this during summer and it is amazing for them to see it. We don’t have this sort of equipment in school so to have the opportunity for them to use it is just another added level to what he is already doing.
“They are just amazed at what he does. It is an amazing opportunity they would never get otherwise.
“It just shows that you don’t always have to do what is expected of you. The culture has changed in Wigan and we want to be part of that here.”
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