ONE of Malvern's most historic businesses has joined up to one of the region's best known public art campaigns.

The Morgan Motor Company is the latest business to get involved with the Elephant Sculpture Trail by St Richard's Hospice.

The company, which has been active in the town for more than a century, is sponsoring an elephant and an elephant calf during the eight-week sculpture trail in Worcester.

Morgan’s large elephant sculpture will be brought to life by an artist’s design and auctioned at the end of the project to raise vital funds for the free, ongoing care and support offered by St Richard’s Hospice to people with a serious progressive illness and their loved ones.

The company’s elephant calf has been gifted to the children at St Matthias CE Primary School, in Malvern, who will design and decorate the sculpture before going on display in a mini parade through Worcester’s city centre shops and Crowngate Shopping Centre. The calf will then return to its creators as a lasting memory of the project.

Speaking about its involvement in Worcester’s Big Parade, Steve Morris, chairman and CEO, Morgan Motor Company, said: "The Morgan Motor Company is committed to supporting charitable causes, none more so than St Richard’s Hospice whose work is so important to our local community.

"As long-time supporters of St Richard’s Hospice, we are delighted to be taking part in Worcester’s Big Parade.

"A brilliant event that sits at the heart of the Worcestershire community, we are looking forward to demonstrating the creativity and versatility of the Morgan brand to residents and visitors alike.

"Morgan is also delighted to help inspire the next generation of craftsmen and women by supporting the involvement of children from St Matthias CE Primary School in the parade.

"They will get to see their own craft skills on display in Worcester city centre and experience the pride of creating their own work of art."

Mrs Beale, headteacher at St Matthias CE Primary School, said: "We’re so grateful to the Morgan team for choosing us to take part in this project next year.

"Having seen the sheer joy and sense of achievement the giraffe trail brought to other local children, it’s really exciting to be involved this time.

"We can’t wait to get started on our elephant design; it’s something for us all to look forward to after all the twists and turns of 2020."

Worcester’s Big Parade builds on the hugely successful Worcester Stands Tall giraffe trail in 2018, which saw giraffe sculptures displayed across the city before raising £210,000 for St Richard’s Hospice at auction.

Sara Matthews, business development manager at St Richard’s, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that Morgan Motor Company are joining us for next year’s trail.

"Each sponsor will bring something unique to the parade and we just know that the team’s passion for quality design and a perfect finish will really come to bear in choosing their sculpture design."

While all elephant calves have now been adopted by local schools and community groups, there is still time to sponsor a large elephant.

To get involved call 01905 763963 and ask for Sara Matthews, email smatthews@strichards.org.uk or visit https://worcestersbigparade.co.uk/get-involved/

You can also follow Worcester’s Big Parade at www.facebook.com/WorcestersBigParade www.twitter.com/WorcsBigParade and www.Instagram.com/WorcsBigParade

Worcester’s Big Parade is a Wild in Art event brought to the city by St Richard’s Hospice.

The event, which will run from 12 July to 5 September 2021, is supported by partners Crowngate, Worcester City Council, Worcester Business Improvement District (BID), the Worcester News and BBC Hereford and Worcester.

To find out more, visit www.worcestersbigparade.co.uk