An enigmatic artist from a Leicestershire town has unveiled her most recent work: a life-sized knitted soldier accompanied by a dog. Known as Syston Knitting Banxy (SKB), the artist maintains her anonymity but is recognized for crafting postbox toppers that commemorate various personalities and events. These figures were created to commemorate Remembrance Day, drawing inspiration from the narrative of a Loughborough man. They are scheduled to be placed on a bench within the Glenfield Hospital garden area, with intentions for their annual return. Fiona Henry, a spokesperson representing SKB, elaborated on how the artist discovered the account of Pte Ball, who was accompanied by a dog throughout his time in the trenches. Ms Henry stated: “Pte Ball survived the war but unfortunately the dog did not.” She continued, “When he returned to Loughborough, he got married and as he came out of the church, there was this little terrier sat waiting for him.” Ms Henry described it as “a very poignant story, which has a mostly happy ending,” adding, “And it is a beautiful way to remember those who served so we can have our freedom.” Ms Henry verified that the creation of the artwork required approximately 600 hours in total. Karen Jones, representing the hospital trust, commented: “People are just in awe of this, the figures and the detail.” She further explained its “extra significance because right after the First World War, the mayor of Leicester raised funds to buy Glenfield house.” Ms Jones noted, “It was converted into a convalescent home for soldiers suffering from shellshock,” and added, “We have photos of these men getting that respite, that time to recover.” Concluding, she said, “So we have come full circle with these figures in the garden.” Ms Jones confirmed that following the Remembrance commemorations, the soldier figure will be moved indoors and placed into storage, to be prepared for the subsequent year. Post navigation News Update: November 11, 2024 East Yorkshire Crafters Display Woolly Hat ‘Christmas Tree’ for Homeless Support