A campaign is underway to secure a lasting legacy to late artist Paul Karslake at one of his favourite local charities.

Paul died, aged 61, at the start of the Covid pandemic. The final piece of art he produced was a stunning hare sculpture as part of the Havens Hospices ‘Hares About Town’ trail.

Paul’s Hare, known as Leporum Fisher (Leporum meaning hare in Latin and Fisher as his hare was of Old Leigh at sunset) can be seen throughout the trail at Chalkwell seafront.

Unbeknown to many, Paul had been commissioned to produce a custom piece of art to stand outside the new Fair Havens building in Prittlewell.  Sadly, Paul died before he could begin this work and therefore Leporum Fisher, as his final piece of work, has a special place in the heart of all those at Havens Hospices, as well as, of course, for Paul’s family and friends.

Head of Philanthropy Louise Gloyne – who knew Paul and his family – says, “Instead of the commissioned piece that Paul could not sadly complete, we at Havens Hospices want to make the gardens at the new hospice Leporum Fisher’s forever home. It seems only right that Paul can still be the first artist credited with a piece at the new hospice building.”

At the end of the Hares About Town trail, every hare, including Leporum Fisher, will be auctioned to the highest bidder with the proceeds of the auction going to the charity. These valuable funds will mean more local people can benefit from the specialist care Havens Hospices gives to families facing the challenges of complex and incurable conditions.

Louise continues, “To secure Leporum Fisher’s return to the gardens at Havens Hospices, we must win the Hare at the auction as the highest bidder.  We would love for the community in and around Southend, and indeed across Essex, to come together as the collective highest bidders through our dedicated JustGiving page, not only securing this beautiful and poignant Hare for the charity but at the same time raising important funds for our local hospice care.”

The community can make their donation towards bringing Paul’s hare to the hospice by  clicking here

If the collective bid is not successful as the highest bidder at the auction, all proceeds to the fund will be treated and gratefully received as donations to Havens Hospices to help fund its free and specialist palliative care.

Published 23rd August 2021