Visual Arts Features| You are in: Wiltshire > Entertainment > Visual Arts > Visual Arts Features > Rolf's school painting needs new home | 
 | | Rolf's painting at Wilton Middle School |
Rolf's school painting needs new homeA picture of the Virgin Mary which was painted by Rolf Harris for pupils at Wilton Middle School almost 30 years ago is in need of a new home. |
| The legendary Antipodean TV personality/singer/didgerioo-player/artist filmed a BBC Christmas Show at the school in 1978, but the programme was never broadcast because of industrial action by BBC staff. The pupils were so disappointed that they wrote to Jimmy Saville, who then visited the children to show them the Christmas show they had never seen.
 | | John Hagger with the painting |
Former Wilton Middle School pupil John Hagger still has happy memories of the time Rolf paid a visit to the school. John said: "I remember on the day, one of the things was he wasn't going to give any autograph. So I went up to him and asked if he'd draw me a horse. So he did and signed it and I said 'ha-ha, caught you!' he said what do you mean?" I said 'I've got your autograph, thanks a lot Rolf!' and laughed. He walked off shaking his head!" Wiltshire County Council has said it is still considering what to do with the painting, but has promised it will not be destroyed. | | | last updated: 11/08/05 | | | Have Your Say | | |
caitlin wilcox
From my memory there appear to be several inaccuracies in your report on the Rolf Harris painting. I too was a pupil at Wilton Middle School in 1978 and was lucky enough to be one of the pupils selected to appear on the Rolf Harris show. Athough the show was initially cancelled by the BBC due to industrial action, it was broadcast the following winter. Jimmy Saville never in fact visited the school, instead a group of pupils from the school, myself included,attended the filming of the episode of the Jim'll Fix It Show on which an extract from the Rolf Harris show was broadcast. As far as Rolf Harris refusing to sign autographs, I found Rolf to be a very child centred performer he sat with us during filming breaks at Longleat making sure he took time to speak to all the children involved in the programme, he was certainly no prima donna, unlike Jim Savile who made no effort to fraternise with the children who were the staple of his audience. Caitlin Wilcox
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