Chris Parry Memorial Sculpture @KeaCPSchool

Aim: We are hoping to have a beautiful memorial sculpture created to honour and remember the life and selflessness of former pupil Chris Parry

I GIVE, WITHOUT THOUGHT OF RECEIVING

I LIVE TO HELP ALL LIFE SEE LIGHT IN DARKNESS

I LOVE, EXPECTING NOTHING IN RETURN

FOR I AM THE HEART

WITHIN THE STONE

So much has been written about the tragic events that led to the loss of beloved son, partner and brother Chris Parry. Chris' last selfless act was providing aid for civilians in the Ukraine conflict, the events of which are detailed in a concise and well-considered manner in this article.

At Kea CP School, the school at which Chris enjoyed his primary years in education, we would like to focus on the wonderful gifts that Chris bestowed on the world. The gifts of selflessness, integrity, bravery and a resolute intolerance of injustice.

Chris quite literally gave his life in the act of helping others.

We feel that one of the best ways of honouring Chris and supporting his legacy, is to ensure that all of the pupils that come through our school know of his life's work and of course, his personal connection to Kea CP School. He was, and will remain, one of our own.

We have looked at many ways of cementing Chris' legacy at our school. For example, we have decided that one of our classes will be named 'Parry'. Each year as part of transition into Parry class, children will have the opportunity to learn about the things that were close to Chris' heart. Not just his life, and end of life story, but the things that drove him to do what he did and be where he was.

Our more ambitious plan to commemorate the life of Chris, is to install a bespoke piece of art at the entrance way to our school. A front and centre reminder of his attendance here. We hope the artwork will offer a place to reflect and to celebrate Chris' life, as well as being a conversation point for all of our pupils and provide opportunity for them to learn more about world events- and their place in that world.

We have found a wonderful artist with whom to work on the project. Ben Dearnley is a contemporary international sculptor, with strong connections to Cornwall. His most recent and striking work in Kernow is a stunning sculpture at Lappa Valley. A memorial to the lives lost in the East Wheal Rose mining tragedy of 1846.

His concept for the sculpture we are proposing is installed at our school is as follows:

"A large standing stone of local Cornish Delabole slate, sculpted to remember former pupil Chris Parry and his inspirational generosity of spirit. To be placed within the Kea Community Primary School grounds where he learned some of life’s earliest lessons. The sculpture takes the opposite position to that of ‘a heart of stone’, and instead places within the stone a big heart full of colour, warmth and beauty. I feel that these are some of the same attributes which Chris must have held dear to himself as he seemed to live by a deep code of moral care and love for others.

The sculpture:

Height, we would like to aim for having the total height be the same height as Chris'.

The slate has an aperture cut out from the top middle section in the shape of a big heart. This area is then filled with a custom-made stained-glass window, made up of many pieces of warm, reds, orange and lilacs, all from pieces of what is known as Cathedral glass. There is a flow of lettering deeply carved into the slate which begins above the stained-glass heart and flows across the slate and around the heart which reads:

 I GIVE, WITHOUT THOUGHT OF RECEIVING

I LIVE TO HELP ALL LIFE SEE LIGHT IN DARKNESS

I LOVE, EXPECTING NOTHING IN RETURN

FOR I AM THE HEART

WITHIN THE STONE"

The concept has been met with warm and loving approval from both the school and Chris' family.

The value that any beautiful piece of artwork can bring to a community space is enormous. 

However, we feel that this memorial artwork has the potential to transcend the beauty of the sculpture itself and offer a focal point for the future aspirations, ambitions and values of Kea CP school pupils for many generations and provide a fitting and permanent legacy of Chris' life and ultimate sacrifice to those values that he held so dear.