FANS of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant are snapping up pocket money-friendly merchandise – and supporting a North East charity at the same time.
Visitors of all ages have taken to the streets of Gateshead, Sunderland, Newcastle and North and South Tyneside to spot the 50 big and 114 little Elmer sculptures which make up Elmer’s Great North Parade.
And they are snapping up everything from badges, keyrings and coasters – priced from as little as £2 – to Elmer rattles, figurines, colouring sheets and pens, to
support Children and Young People’s Services at St Oswald’s Hospice.
Available online and at St Oswald’s shops in Gosforth, Jesmond, Whitley Bay, Low Fell, Sunderland, Wallsend, Kingston Park and Grainger Market, the range also encompasses tote bags and photo frames.
Children can unleash their creativity by painting their own Elmer sculpture and there is a selection of mugs, bearing the different designs of the Elmers making up the Great North Parade.
Each of the Elmer sculptures has been decorated by a different artist, but, sadly, Wallsend artist Jeff Rowland died earlier this year, shortly after completing his elephant.
Jeff – whose Snowdog, Arthur, was one of the most popular of 2016’s Great North Snowdogs trail – named his Elmer Amy after his niece and, in his memory, a whole line of merchandise bears his design.
“Amy is a beautiful design based around an autumn scene,” said St Oswald’s head of retail, Andrew Moir, “and we’re delighted to be able to honour Jeff’s memory with an exclusive range dedicated to this artwork.”
The merchandise was chosen specifically to suit all pockets and Andrew said: “They all make brilliant souvenirs of the trail and are great gifts for anyone anybody who is an Elmer fan.”
Many of the St Oswald’s shops carry a reduced selection of items but the entire range can be viewed and purchased at www.greatnorthelmer.co.uk/shop