A NUDE sculpture removed from a North East hospital for being ‘inappropriate’ is to be reinstalled nearly 50 years on.

Eddie Hawking was a lecturer at The Northern College of Art, formerly Cleveland College of Art and Design in Middlesbrough.

Inspired by his wife Audrey’s pregnancy with their second child, he created the sculpture in the late 1950s.

Read more: Man left injured after collision walks into Teesside pub to get help

The Northern Echo: Eddie Hawking's sculpture, inspired by his wife Audrey's pregnancy with their second child. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT Eddie Hawking's sculpture, inspired by his wife Audrey's pregnancy with their second child. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The sculpture was never intended to be exhibited, however, a consultant friend of the Hawking family who worked at University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton, noticed the sculpture at the family home and thought it would be perfect for the maternity ward.

Eddie and Audrey agreed, and the artwork was moved there in 1974.

Shortly after the sculpture was installed outside the maternity ward, a matron who was unhappy with its presence, started a petition to have it removed, rallying her nurses in support of the ultimately successful campaign.

Read more: North East estate ends up with order after spate of anti-social behaviour

The Northern Echo: The sculpture was removed from the hospital shortly after being installed as it was found to be inappropriate. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTThe sculpture was removed from the hospital shortly after being installed as it was found to be inappropriate. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The sculpture was taken away and ended up in the garage of the Hawking family home in Bristol.

Daniel Cochran, a researcher from Middlesbrough, contacted Shaun Campbell from the Arthur Wharton Foundation in Darlington. Together they reached out to Julie Gillon at the NHS Trust and hospital consultant Professor Jane Metcalfe to enquire as to whether the sculpture could return.

Expecting to be given the cold shoulder, they were surprised at the positive response they got.

The Arthur Wharton Foundation is paying for the work to be restored with the trust covering the cost of transporting it from Bristol.

Mr Hawking, now 94, agreed to re-donate his work to the hospital on condition it was genuinely wanted by the hospital staff and management.

Read more: Mayor launches new fund to help grow Tees Valley festivals

Eddie’s son, Christopher, said: “My father was really quite emotional when he was told the hospital wanted it back. He was really, really happy.”

Mr Campbell, the founder of the Arthur Wharton Foundation, said: “We got involved because we just thought it would be a nice thing to do. We thought it’d be such a shame if the sculpture never got back to the hospital where it belongs so how could we refuse? I knew it was the right thing to do.”

--

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054