June in Scotland usually means the chance of a “wee bitta” sun for us up here north of the border, that’s only if were lucky right enough! But this year June means the start of something MUCH more exciting as it marks the start of Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail.
I was kindly asked along with to the launch day of the The Oor Wullies BIG Bucket Trail by the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity to experience the buzz surrounding this historic event for myself and it definitely did not disappoint. You can’t help feel the magic in the air as the legendry DC Thomson’s Oor Wullie is seen lining the streets of Scotland.
The Trail runs for 11 weeks from Monday the 17th June until Friday the 30th August in the five hosting cities, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. Its been inspired by Scotland’s favourite son and is the first of its kind. This is all in the hopes that some fun and laughter is brought to the children of Scotland over the summer while raising funds and awareness for three amazing charities… Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, The Archie Foundation and The Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.
Each life sized sculpture has been individually designed by 100 artists and the aim of the game is to download the Oor Wullie app or collect a paper trail guide and see how many statues you can find. Each one is sponsored by a different business who have hidden a secret code on the statue with some fantastic surprises ready and waiting. So keep your eyes peeled around Scotland over the next 11 weeks for any statues you come across as you never what they might have waiting for you ! It’s Such a fun thing to do for the whole family and perfect for keeping the kids amused over the summer holidays… although I think the adults will have just as much fun “hunting doon aw they Oor Wullies too!”
They’ve also partnered up with the Wild in Art project who believe that through the medium of art not only gives people a voice, it’s also beneficial to health and wellbeing. So far they have helped raise over 12million for charities through the beauty of their art.
There’s a real sense of community that surrounded today and it is beyond a doubt, something that really will live on in our countries history while being talked about for many years to come. The work that has gone into this project by all involved in unbelievable and so much time and effort has went into this to help our charities raise the funds needed to continue to keep doing the life changing work they do on a daily basis..
I would love it if you get in touch to let me know if you’ve spotted any OOR WULLIES!!!!
As always, for Francesca and Leo xxx
C x
The Childrens’s Hospital Charities
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity
Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity
No matter who you are or where you live, you can get involved with Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail by:
Becoming a national, regional or education sponsor
Sponsoring an Oor Wullie sculpture
Exploring the trails in each city with your friends and family
Getting involved with your school and learning all about Oor Wullie and our heritage
Bidding on a sculpture in our auctions at the end of the trail
FB: https://www.facebook.com/OWBIGbuckettrail/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/owbigbuckettrail/
For more info about the App:
https://www.oorwullie.com/app/?fbclid=IwAR08_e6JsjHtmt8l3sa-OhHtQOZQL0ANFI_eirIZOK9_5hAlDOCrtgVtd1k
And last but not least, here’ a wee bit aboot Oor Wullie taken from https://www.oorwullie.com/oor-wullie/
Since appearing in the Sunday Post over 80 years ago, Oor Wullie has become a much loved part of Scottish Heritage. He’s the iconic wee Scottish laddie from the fictional town of Auchenshoogle, and some say the image of Wullie sitting on his upturned bucket, wearing his famous black dungarees is as familiar to Scots as Edinburgh Castle! Wullie wages a constant war against boredom and he includes attending school in his list of boring things to do. He is a great righter of wrongs and will bravely tackle bullies to protect his lifelong pals Fat Bob, Soapy Soutar and Wee Eck. His occasional girlfriend Primrose Patterson is the only one allowed to call him William. Wullie loves life, fun and laughter and even the figures of authority in his world; Ma, Pa and long-suffering PC Murdoch have to smile at his energetic pranks. He speaks a unique brand of Scots language which includes his famous sayings ‘Jings!’, ‘Crivvens!’ and ‘Help Ma Boab!’ Oor Wullie is so loved by the Scottish nation that in a survey conducted in 2004 the young scamp was voted ‘Scotland’s Favourite Son’, beating William Wallace and Sean Connery into second and 3rd places, with Rabbie Burns a distant 4th!
FOR FRANCESCA 