The Daffodil Runner for Marie Curie Possibly my most important job so far; certainly the most meaningful. I was contacted on behalf of Marie Curie;the end of life care charity. Important work helping people to leave the world with the support they need www.mariecurie.org.uk. The main brief for the job was to highlight just how many people pass away each day without adequate end of life care. The figure is 557 people per day. Shocking. Still numbs me now. I was asked to produce a life sized runner for the 2026 London Marathon covered in 557 daffodils. It was to be a gender neutral figure to show that these conditions affect all of us. I was sent this AI image to get me started.
Straight away I had a plan formed in my head. I doubted we'd see Tower Bridge but it was a nice image. Six weeks later knock me down there were by Tower Bridge with a good facsimile of the AI image. The artist was overcome at this point. Im still stunned when I see this image
The Daffodil Runner had a great day by The Thames by Tower bridge and some great photos were taken. The public had some great reactions. The security guards had to stop one lady licking the flowers
here is a shot of Daffodil Runner with a local runner
Daffodil Runner then spent the week at The Excel centre helping the athletes collect their marathon packs and having selfies taken. I was overcome by how many people posted these pictures, hundreds of them. See video further down. I have no idea who this chap is one of many.
I am not a runner but this job was my personal marathon. From conception to delivery in six weeks, did me in completely.
A brief description of how The Daffodil Runner was made
The first job was to make an armature for the body and fill it in with steel rings. All hand made. Here I am testing structural integrity.
Yep; happy with that. I was dreading having to reinforce the ankle but my triangulated design is easily up to the job
The next job was to make the daffodils. I planned on hand making them. I made one and realised it was not going to happen.
So I had them laser cut. 600 of them. I planned on a few spares. All I had to do was roll the trumpets into a ring, weld them onto the petals and fit a small stud on the back. A tedious job quick but how many times? Make the flower; chuck it in a box repeat ad infinitum. Then I put them on a jig for powder coating. Suddenly it struck me. Rather like seeing the WWI war graves in France as a stroppy teenager. Each one represents a family torn apart.
Still painful to think about. And this is only half of the flowers.
Next stage was to fit the flowers onto the body. Such fun as they interlock like gears. But I got them on. I managed 365 flowers but had a plan for the rest of them. Just the effect I was looking for
Then off with the flowers and fit bolts into the holes they screw into to keep the threads clear during powder coating Scary.
This was a fantastic look; Kath christened him Usain Bolt. if anybody wants a heavy metal mascot feel free to contact me.
After powder coating all the flowers go back on. Each one screwed in and secured with locitite. A painful job but the figure came to life
A neighbour popped in a few moments later and said ' ****** I have to just sit and look at this' then sat there for five minutes just staring a perfect reaction, Much better then 'Oh that's nice.
This is Wales dont forget'
To get the rest of the flowers I engraved them into the base again by hand; being careful not to put them in linesor have lines develop themselves and to give the final total of 557 daffodils
Then off to London we went.
Time for the client to see the piece of art for the first time. Always a stressful moment
First exposure to daylight and the colours burst out; and Oh is that the Tower of London?
Then off to the Excel for registration process at The TCL London Marathon Running show
Video here from my Niece Jen Hopkins of some of the runners taking selfies with Daffodil Runner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F341bmIlHsc&t=55s
I was amazed and humbled by how many people posted pictures on facebook. Big thanks all of you
Last of all Kath and I took the runner to the Marie Curie Hospice at Penarth for a home coming to Wales.
A great reception from the staff who demonstrated their superior marathon running skills
My personal marathon was done