A charity auction of decorated elephant models has generated over £240,000 for Thames Hospice. The funds were raised from the sale of sculptures featured in the Trunks across the Thames art trail, which saw 30 elephants placed in public locations across Windsor and Slough between July and September.
The highest bid of £20,000 was for an elephant model, named Elenorris, signed by McLaren Formula One racing driver Lando Norris. This particular piece was created in memory of Matt Seymour, a McLaren engineer who was cared for at the Maidenhead hospice before his death in 2023. His wife, Jess, helped to lead the Trunks across the Thames project.
Artists, including Oscar-winning author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy and graffiti artist Bambi, collaborated with Thames Hospice for the initiative. Rachael de Caux, the hospice's chief executive, expressed her delight at the community's generosity.