Percival the peacock took pride of place as hosts and visitors had fun at a Dorset care home’s summer fair.
The handsome model bird, standing two-foot tall and three-foot long and sporting real tail feathers, was constructed from papier-mache and clay and painted in bright colours by residents at Colten Care’s Newstone House in Sturminster Newton.
Four ‘creatives’ led the project – Sue Griffiths, Adrienne Richardson, Ian Loftus and Tony Stock – with fellow residents lending their support as Percival took shape during arts and crafts sessions in his ‘birthplace’ of the home’s Richmond Retreat room.
On the day of the fair, Percival was moved into a more prominent position in the lobby for people to admire him, with at least one visitor describing him as ‘absolutely beautiful’.
Sue said of the project to bring Percival to life: “It cheered me to help create something beautiful with my hands.”
Companionship Team Member Ruth Telford, who worked with the residents to make Percival, said: “We had around 30 external visitors to the fair and so many of them mentioned the peacock. You couldn’t avoid seeing him when you arrived.”
As well as the chance to meet and admire Percival, the family-friendly fair featured traditional fairground-type games, a lottery tree, a raffle, candyfloss and live entertainment from singers Angus Todd and Tina Jay.
In support of the home’s charity this year, the Vale Family Hub, residents made bird feeders and posies for sale.
Proceeds, together with donations and other takings on the day, took the amount raised for the hub to more than £850.
Among the Newstone House residents attending the fair and admiring Percival was 101-year-old Jim Freer, a World War Two RAF veteran.
Describing the crafts sessions at which Percival was made, Ruth added: “Residents began by building the body using old newspapers and paper mâché and followed that by securing it together using tin foil and chicken wire.
“Once the body was the size they wanted, they made it stronger by covering it in clay. They then created the neck and head using clay and again secured it all.
“Once that stage was done, they were able to get really creative. They began by mixing colours to create the perfect peacock green and blue. Then they picked out a variety of feathers to stick to the tail. Using more clay, they used shell moulds to create feather-looking shapes to put on the body.
“It was a lovely project. Residents chose the idea of making a peacock as the best way to represent summer. Percival has such beautiful colours which glisten so gracefully in the sunshine. All the planning and crafting helped everyone involved open their imagination and creativity and he definitely proved a hit and talking point at our summer fair.”
Newstone House is one of seven Colten Care home to be rated Outstanding by care sector regulator the Care Quality Commission.
