The inspirational Northampton pair who are creating a mural from epaulettes to honour all ‘protective service workers’

The idea came from wanting to create a memorial for PC Andrew Harper, but the project escalated quickly.
The mural captures several protective services working.The mural captures several protective services working.
The mural captures several protective services working.

An inspirational teacher and police officer from Northampton have taken it upon themselves to create a colourful mural to commemorate the work of the ‘protective services’.

Sam Bailey and Stuart Roberts are collecting epaulettes, which are the shoulder badges emergency service workers wear, to turn them into a mural to memorialise the work these people do.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The idea for the work of art originally started with Stuart, who is a forensic collision investigator for Northamptonshire Police, wanting to pay tribute to Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper who died last year.

An epaulette made with PC Harper's collar number is in the middle of the policeman.An epaulette made with PC Harper's collar number is in the middle of the policeman.
An epaulette made with PC Harper's collar number is in the middle of the policeman.

Stuart said: “I just felt like I wanted to leave something at the scene.

“I was on my motorbike so I couldn’t carry flowers.

“I took an epaulette with my number on it.

“I wanted to leave a personal token from one officer to another.

The design that the mural is based on.The design that the mural is based on.
The design that the mural is based on.

“I took a photo of it and posted it on social media.

“Lots of people commented saying that it was such a good idea and that we should all do that.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Stuart set up a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a hashtag for JustAddShoulders to get more people involved.

Since then, protective services from around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and more, have sent their epaulettes to Stuart.

Sam Bailey is one of the masterminds behind the mural.Sam Bailey is one of the masterminds behind the mural.
Sam Bailey is one of the masterminds behind the mural.

The 47-year-old added: “It became massive. We’ve had them sent in from dozens of countries.

“From an emergency services point of view, we’re one big family all over the world.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“And we’re not the only people out there who provide protective services.

“Highways, prison service, if they wear an epaulette they provide protective services.”

Sam says all the epaulettes will be used. These are just some of the ones she has left.Sam says all the epaulettes will be used. These are just some of the ones she has left.
Sam says all the epaulettes will be used. These are just some of the ones she has left.

Stuart knew he wanted to do something with these epaulettes to commemorate PC Harper in a creative or artistic way, but was not sure exactly how.

Enter Sam Bailey.

Sam is an art and photography teacher at Caroline Chisholm and she also memorialises fallen soldiers by drawing them.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She has published books of her drawings from wars such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

The 49-year-old explained: “I posted my first few drawings online and it became a massive thing in how much it means to people that their loved ones aren’t just being remembered as a number.”

The pair, who knew each other when Stuart’s son was at the school, ran into each other again while Stuart was at the school for his daughter’s parents evening.

JustAddShoulders is the hashtag Stuart and Sam are using on social media.JustAddShoulders is the hashtag Stuart and Sam are using on social media.
JustAddShoulders is the hashtag Stuart and Sam are using on social media.

They got talking and Sam’s history in memorial art made them both think it was the perfect fit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Since that meeting only two weeks ago, the pair have worked exceptionally hard.

Sam has designed the mural, they have sorted all the epaulettes into colours and Sam has already completed a large chunk of the mural.

She explained: “I wanted the design to include all the services that have sent epaulettes in so we’ve done a big scene.

“I think of it like a scene in End Game, everyone plays their part.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Within the mural on one of the policemen, there is one of the epaulettes made in honour of PC Harper with his collar number on. Just above that is one sent in by his best friend.

Police Dog Bryn, who was killed in duty in Irthlingborough in 1998 and his handler are also a part of the mural.

From PCSOs, to fire services, to the prison service, evidence gathering teams, armed forces, Highways, police cadets and even bus drivers, the mural is made up of epaulettes from all walks of life.

Sam said: “We’re trying to use everything we've had sent in and everything will get used.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It started as a way to remember PC Harper but now it has ended up being for everyone.”

Stuart even said he thinks it has helped the mental health of people who may be struggling with PTSD or coming to terms with bad experiences, as it has ‘brought a lot of people together’.

The mural is currently a work in progress in a gallery at the school, for which the pair are extremely grateful to Caroline Chisholm’s headteacher for letting them take over the space.

In the gallery there is CCTV that Sam has permission to use and is hoping to make a time lapse of the whole process of making the mural, once it is completed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Stuart and Sam hope to have the mural finished by August in time for the one year anniversary of PC Harper’s death.

Once it is completed, they will need to find a permanent home for the mural.

Sam added: “We want somewhere public. We have a few ideas but we’re not sure for definite yet.

“We want to make sure people understand it. There’s lots of history in it.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Stuart added: “People have suggested touring, but it wouldn’t be feasible. It would be a whole weekend’s work to move it each time. It’s so heavy.”

As people are still sending in their epaulettes, Stuart has had to set a cut-off deadline.

If you did want to send in an epaulette, it needs to be sent to: PC510 Roberts, SCIU, Northamptonshire Police Headquarters, Wootton Hall, Northamptonshire, NN4 0JQ by mid-February.