Skip to content

Owl sculpture disappears weeks after being installed

Graham Derham A split photo showing on the left a wooden sculpture of an owl sitting with owlets behind it. The sculpture is on a tree stump. On the right, the tree stump is empty with damaged Remembrance crosses on it.Graham Derham
The owl sculpture, weighing about 30kg, has disappeared from the stump it was attached to

A sculpture of a family of owls has disappeared just four weeks after being installed outside a church.

The work, which had been located in a small garden next to Calne Methodist Church in Wiltshire, was created for free by Graham Derham.

"People are a mixture of upset, angry and not surprised - which is sad to hear," Mr Derham said.

Remembrance crosses on the tree stump below the sculpture were damaged when it was taken on 5 November. It has been reported to police but the force has said there is not enough evidence to investigate at this stage.

Google A church building beside a road. The stone church has arched windows and a small, more modern, porch attached to the front with methodist church written on itGoogle
The sculpture was located in a small garden to the side of Calne Methodist Church

The disappearance of the statue has been shared hundreds of times on social media.

Mr Derham said he had designed the piece "to make people happy".

"When I discovered that the sculpture was missing, I saw the crosses had also been stamped into the ground and not paid any mind at all. It was rather disheartening" he explained.

The chainsaw carver said the sculpture weighed about 30kg and had been fixed down with metal stakes 2ft into the ground.

He said it would have taken two people to move, adding: "Someone put a lot of effort into it."

Graham Derham Graham Derham using a chainsaw, wearing ear defenders and a grey T-shirt, carving wood into a sculpture of a bearded man inside a barn.Graham Derham
Graham Derham carves using a chainsaw to create his works

"I'm feeling disappointed that someone would be so selfish that to take something that brought pleasure to so many other people" the artist added.

Mr Derham said he thought it would turn up "eventually", whether abandoned or for sale and if not he would make another one.

Police said the case has been closed due to a lack of evidence, but if more information came to light they would look to investigate.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

More stories like this
Related internet links