A double decker bus converted into a three-bedroom home is being sold to help fund a moving tribute to a local war hero.
The late Len Gibson endured three and a half years of forced labour, near-starvation, disease and brutality as a Japanese prisoner of war on the notorious Burma Railway and Bridge over the River Kwai. He died on July 31, 2021, aged 101 - just days before the launch of a book detailing his remarkable life.
And now Brian Burnie, founder of cancer patient care charity Daft as a Brush (DAAB), is campaigning to create a statue of Len Gibson, which will be placed at Roker Cliff Park, Sunderland, and commemorate all Far East prisoners of World War II.
Mr Gibson, from Sunderland, was a huge supporter DAAB and its work of transporting cancer patients, free of charge, to and from hospital for their cancer treatment. The charity even went on to name one of its ambulances after him.
But it is hoped that a statue of Mr Gibson will symbolise his passion for music, time as a Prisoner of War (PoW), and Mr Gibson's personality, as well as commemorate all Far East prisoners of World War II.
Artist Ray Londsale has sketched out an early draft suggestion for the statue, featuring Mr Gibson and a banjo he made as a PoW after the loss of his guitar at sea, which he is passing to a Thai child. This poignant symbol of giving, hope and forgiveness is said to be exactly the qualities that define Mr Gibson, who has been who has previously been described by Mr Burnie as "the greatest gentleman I have ever met".
A petition and fundraising for the statue launched at Daft as a Brush House, in Gosforth, today with special guests in attendance, including children from Mr Gibson's old School, Hastings Hill Academy, and the sculptor of the proposed statue and creator of the 'Tommy' statue in Seaham.
The statue will come as no charge to Sunderland City Council or to the public taxpayers and will instead be funded through fundraising. This will include the sale of a double decker bus, named Bluebell, which has been converted into a three-bedroom home.
The bus was used as a home for Mr Burnie when he completed a 7,000 mile walk around the coastal footpath of Great Britain and Ireland which he completed a couple of years ago to highlight the work of the charity. It is hoped that the sale of the bus will raise over £100,000 for the Len Gibson Statue Appeal.
To sign the petition in support of the statue, please visit this link. Should enough signatures be gathered, various statue suggestions will be available to view at the Daft as a Brush website.
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