Northampton artist creates VE Day mural from protective services epaulettes

A Northampton artist who has created several different murals from epaulettes to commemorate different protective service personnel has now made a specific VE Day design.

Sam Bailey used spare epaulettes from the original mural to honour PC Andrew Harper, to make another piece ahead of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on Friday (May 8).

Lance Sergeant Eric Presland, who served in Dunkirk, Normandy and the Berlin Victory Parade, is honoured in the newest mural as Sam has a personal connection to him.

The art and photography teacher at Caroline Chisholm School, said: “Eric is a World War Two veteran and I was fortunate enough to illustrate his memoirs.

“He had a really interesting life and I saw this picture of him and thought it was a strong and powerful image.

“I would have loved to have met him. Having a personal connection is really important to me and I try to put it into everything I do.”

The new mural also includes a portrait of Colonel Tom Moore, who has raised more than £30 million for the NHS during the pandemic and was the centre of one of Sam’s recent murals.She added: “Tom is of the time right now and he symbolises everything that is happening.

“He has shown that British grit and that’s what I think brought the two men in the mural together.

“Putting the two together really symbolises VE Day. They are amazing British heroes who went on to lead happy lives.”

To complete the mural, which is eight foot high, seven foot wide and took four days to make, Sam used around 475 epaulettes.

Also drawn onto the mural is Dunkirk beach behind Eric and trenches behind Tom, as they both symbolise a part of each of the soldier’s lives.

To Sam, the VE Day piece was a good way to round off her series of murals.

“This was the perfect opportunity to bring it full circle,” she said.

“It had a reference to me and also everything that is happening at the moment.

“It was a good way to finish it all off.”

Sam has no plans to create any more murals, but is hopeful she can find a home for her VE Day piece once lockdown is lifted.

The PC Andrew Harper and Tom Moore murals will be homed in the National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield.

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