Sobell House Hospice Raises Over £150,000 with OxTrail Auction

The Oxen sculptures that brought color and charm to Oxfordshire this summer have found new homes, raising over £150,000 for Sobell House Hospice. The “OxTrail” event, organised by Sobell House and Wild in Art, showcased 31 large and over 100 mini painted oxen throughout Oxford during July and August.

On Friday, September 13th, an auction led by BBC’s Bargain Hunt star Thomas Forrester saw 47 of these unique sculptures sold to the highest bidders at the Saïd Business School. Together with pre-sales, the event raised more than £150,000 for Sobell House Hospice, which provides end-of-life care and support to adult patients and their families.

The fundraising auction drew around 100 attendees in person, with an additional 150 bidders participating online. Among the top sellers were BBC Radio Oxford’s ox, “Tony,” created by local yarn artist Yarnsy, which sold for £2,800, and the “Moo-seum,” a collection of six mini-mini oxen created by The Story Museum, fetching £1,300.

Generosity shone brightly as Oxfordshire residents Claire and Pete Redfern purchased three large and two medium oxen. “We are all Connected,” “Dynamic FlOX,” “Manu,” “Roxy,” and “Herbie” now have new homes in the Redferns’ garden. Claire spoke about their motivation: “My dad had less than 8 weeks from diagnosis to passing away. His last day or two were spent in a hospice at home in Scotland. But it doesn’t matter where, the point still stands. A hospice gave my dad and my family some incredibly precious peaceful time. When I look at my beautiful oxen, I am thinking of the precious gift of dignity and time Sobell House is giving to families in Oxfordshire.”

Another couple, Richard and Catherine Jones, purchased the “Oxslips and Cowslips” sculpture. Following Richard’s cycling accident in June, the OxTrail became part of his recovery process. Catherine shared, “I am absolutely thrilled with Oxslips, he gives us a feeling of hope. The trail was so uplifting and has been an important part of Richard’s transformation. A little miracle in itself.”

Local historian Mark Davies bought the “Looking for Alice” sculpture by Caroline Ritson for £3,000. The statue will now be displayed at the Westgate shopping center, where it will be placed on the roof terrace overlooking Christ Church College, in homage to Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Brendan Hattam, Centre Director at Westgate Oxford, expressed his delight: “We are delighted that ‘Looking For Alice’ will be returning to Westgate Oxford permanently, and we’d like to thank the Lewis Carroll society for their generous donation. Alice will be installed on our Roof Terrace, looking out to Christ Church College where Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland, providing a lasting reminder of the way the city came together this summer for the Sobell House Hospice OxTrail. We hope guests will flock to see her in years to come.”

The OxTrail sculptures were decorated by local and international artists, including kOrky Paul and Annie Sloan, and the smaller oxen were painted by schools and community groups. Some of these smaller oxen will remain in the community as a lasting reminder of the event.

Reflecting on the success of the fundraising campaign, Beth Marsh of Sobell House Hospice said, “It’s been a labour of love, and everyone has worked incredibly hard to create such an unforgettable event. OxTrail has been a wonderful moment not only for the hospice but for the whole community. It is lovely to know many of the oxen will remain in the community, as we aren’t quite ready to see them all go! We want to thank everyone involved and for the incredible donations and fundraising. The money raised will make a big difference to those who need it most.”

For more information on the OxTrail and the auction, visit oxtrail2024.co.uk.