Artist presents Derbyshire hospital with picture after young boy’s ‘snake’ stolen

During lockdown, four-year-old Stanley Briggs – the son of Barlborough NHS Treatment Centre’s senior radiographer Adrian Briggs – and his friends created a ‘snake’ made up of 79 separate painted stones in their village of Ravenfield, South Yorkshire.

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Sadly, the family woke up one morning to find the stones had gone.

Stanley’s mum Emma shared on Facebook the family’s distress at the theft – and the community rallied around, delivering stones to the house for others to paint.

The new Ravenfield snake now boasts more than 900 colourful stones.

One of the people to contribute a stone was Sheffield artist Joe Scarborough.

When he found out that both of Stanley’s parents are radiographers, Joe kindly pledged pictures to each of the hospitals where they work – including Barlborough NHS Treatment Centre.

Stanley’s dad Adrian said: “We were both delighted.

“It is an acknowledgement of all the work people have done throughout.

“I am also very proud of Stanley – he has become an unintentional local celebrity.

“He has been very sensible throughout lockdown.

“He understands he must regularly wash his hands and socially distance because of the virus, and he has loved watching the many visitors and dog walkers who come to see his remarkable stone snake.”

Stanley will join the team at Barlborough NHS Treatment Centre for the official unveiling of Joe’s picture post-lockdown.

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