Spikey the missing Trowse hedgehog turns up

KATE SCOTTER
08 December 2009 15:00

Rebecca Kemp and Spikey, the sculpture hedgehog she made five years ago which used to sit under the village sign in Trowse. It went missing in October but was recently found in Trowse cemetery.

An artist has been reunited with a hedgehog sculpture she made five years ago after it mysteriously disappeared from under a village sign.

Rebecca Kemp, 31, from Trowse, made the sculpture, affectionately nicknamed Spikey by the village community, back in 2004 while she was in her final few weeks studying for an MA in Fine Art at the Norwich School of Art and Design.

Ever since, it had lived under the village sign in Trowse until it went missing at the end of September.

The much-loved sculpture has now been discovered -in Trowse cemetery - and been reunited with its creator.

Ms Kemp, a community worker and art technician who also tour manages musicians, said: “It's quite curious how it ended up in Trowse cemetery but it's pretty cool that it's back. I have no idea what the plans are for it now, whether to reinstall it beneath the village sign or to keep it myself.”

Spikey, which is made from 15kg of cast iron steel, was first created after Norwich City Council had taken action to remove the spiked tops off the railings at Trowse Primary School.

The century old spikes were rescued by former Trowse parish councillor Martin Kentish who asked Ms Kemp to make some use of them.

Spikey

It took her more than four hours to make Spikey, spaced out over a couple of weeks, and Trowse Parish Council helped towards the cost of creating it, pledging £250.

When it went missing, villagers said they were upset by Spikey's disappearance. It was discovered by South Norfolk Council staff in the cemetery at the end of last month. It is not known how it got there.

Martin Kentish, 40, former Trowse parish councillor, said it was “great news” Spikey had been found.

He said: “I did joke about thinking it unlikely he'd have gone into hibernation but it seems like he found a patch of land in the cemetery to curl up for the winter.

“It was sad that he was stolen but the whole community is delighted to have him back. I'll make sure he returns to his spot as soon as possible and he's a more permanent fixture for people to enjoy.

“Thanks so much to South Norfolk Council, Rebecca and David Kemp for all their hard work to bring him back.”

Do you have a story for the Evening News? If so contact reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk

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