Scottish Catholic Observer

A rare, hand-coloured plaster bust of the late Pope John Paul II has been donated to St Vincent’s Hospice, Howwood, Johnstone, and will be auctioned next month to raise vital funds to ensure the people of Renfrewshire and the west of Scotland can continue to receive the best palliative care possible.

The bust was donated to the hospice by its sculptor, world-renowned artist, Alexander Stoddart, and is the last of only five extant copies in the world.

Mr Stoddart, who is from nearby Paisley, has produced some of the finest monuments in Scotland and has been named the queen’s Sculptor in Ordinary in Scotland, a title bestowed on him in recognition of his outstanding contribution to culture.

Charitable art

Ahead of the auction in August, the sculptor emphasised how keen he was that charitable causes would be the beneficiaries of the final pieces of work.

“It was my absolute determination to make sure that the few remaining copies of this bust be disposed of solely to charitable ends,” Mr Stoddart said.

“I am delighted that St Vincent’s Hospice, a local centre of care and compassion, will benefit in some degree from the sale of this work’s last available copy.”

The other copies of the bust are located in The Pope John Paul II Centre in Washington DC, St Mary of the Lake University/Mundelein Seminary in Chicago while another copy remains in the sculptor’s private collection.

Brona McGee, clinical services manager at St Vincent’s, recently visited Mr Stoddart’s studio and was suitably impressed by his work and generosity.

“I had the pleasure of being invited along to Sandy’s studio to see some of his outstanding work,” Ms McGee said.

“We are overwhelmed by his generosity in donating this piece to St Vincent’s Hospice and would like sincerely to thank him for his support and kindness.”

Auction at ball

Kate Lennon, the newly appointed chief executive of St Vincent’s Hospice, said that the community is ‘extremely grateful to be given this wonderful piece to auction at our forthcoming ball.’

“The ball will be held in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on Friday August 19 and we hope that supporters of the hospice and readers of this article will come along to the evening and participate in the excitement of the auction,” Ms Lennon said. “Every minute is precious for our patients and their families; all monies raised from this event and the auction will help us make every minute count.”

St Vincent’s Hospice has been providing specialist palliative care to the people of Renfrewshire and the west of Scotland for 24 years, touching the lives of around 500 people each month. It was recently awarded six stars of excellence for its work by The Care Commission regulatory authority.  It costs £5000 per day to run the hospice and, in today’s financial climate, hospices are facing increased challenges in raising the vital funds needed to continue with their mission.

— If you would like to attend the Heart and Soul Ball (tickets £60) or would like to bid for the bust, in person or by phone on the evening, please contact Lorraine Valentine, Events Co-ordinator on 01505 705635 or by email at [email protected].

— [email protected]