FOOTBALL fans can snap up the latest signing at Newcastle’s St James’ Park thanks to a very special transfer window next month (October).
Since July, 96 sculptures have formed a nine-week long Peter Rabbit™: Tales on the Tyne public art trail across Newcastle and North Tyneside, to raise awareness of St Oswald’s Hospice.
The trail – to mark the Hospice’s 40th anniversary celebrations and the 160th anniversary of his creator Beatrix Potter’s birth – will draw to a close on Monday 14 September.
And one of the most popular sculptures with fans of the beautiful game has been Wor Peter – a black and white-themed homage to Newcastle United FC outside the St James’ Park stadium.
Created by Dan Lycett, at Wor Flags, and sponsored by NUFC, Wor Peter is a glorious tribute to the Magpies.
It features mascots Monty and Maggie and the illustrated story of the team’s historic 2025 League Cup win, with everything from flag waving fans to Dan Burn’s header and Bruno parading the cup.
And it is expected to be one of the most carefully watched pieces, when 40 items – from the trail and special edition pieces – go under the hammer on Tuesday 13 October to raise funds for the hospice.
The auction will take place at Newcastle Civic Centre and bidding is expected to be fierce, with advance bids now being accepted for anyone hoping to secure a sculpture.
The lots up for auction include large and medium sized sculptures – not all of which featured on the trail – along with a Snowdog sculpture, in tribute to the Hospice’s Great North Snowdogs event in 2016 and a special, book bench-themed sculpture.
Each has been individually decorated by artists from across the region and beyond and many feature themes associated with the North East.
And Steph Edusei, Chief Executive of St Oswald’s Hospice, is hopeful Wor Peter will appeal to anyone “who loves football, loves the Magpies or just loves Newcastle.
“It’s a beautiful, joyous sculpture that really captures the essence of the 2025 League Cup win,” she said.
“And, as with each of the sculptures in our auction, whoever buys it will be helping St Oswald’s Hospice continue to provide care for those we love when they need it most.”
Peter Rabbit™: Tales on the Tyne is held in conjunction with creative producers Wild in Art, along with The World of Peter Rabbit™, Headline Trail Partner Newcastle City Council, Trail Partner North Tyneside Council, Learning Programme Partner Northumbrian Water and Community Partner North Standard.
At the end of the trail, all sculptures will come together for a final celebration weekend from 10–11 October, offering visitors one last opportunity to see them in one place before they are auctioned.
The auction catalogue can be viewed at www.talesonthetyne.co.uk/auction and tickets for both the celebration weekend and the auction are now available at: www.talesonthetyne.co.uk/events. For those who can’t attend in person, there is an option to register and bid online.
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