Mackenzie Thorpe tells of pride in Middlesbrough on visit to school for Stronger Together project
We’re stronger together – that was the message from the children, staff and families of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Middlesbrough on the day artist Mackenzie Thorpe returned to his hometown.
Since May, Middlesbrough-born Mackenzie has been working with the children on their Stronger Together project to create Teesside-inspired artworks for their outdoor play area. The 14 images include two donated by Mackenzie, one inside the school railings – “The Boro”, depicting elements of central Middlesbrough – and one outside, facing the world, titled “Stronger Together”.
Created especially for the school, it shows a group of children in red and white football kits and Mackenzie's trademark hearts and Teesside bridges. On the long-awaited unveiling day, families were invited to enjoy a buffet of food representing the many cultures pupils come from.
The art had all been under wraps since children returned to school but was revealed to gasps of delight from the children, parents and invited guests. Mackenzie became emotional, telling the children and guests: “You can see through their artwork that the children are so proud of Middlesbrough.
“When this school was built, you also built a community. I'm almost crying because I can just feel the atmosphere, and all the hard work you’ve done. Your artwork comes from this community, which is the strongest thing we have in this town. You can't put a person down because if you do, we'll stand up together and be counted. And we’ll do it as neighbours.
“One more thing I'd like to say is just work hard every day and you'll achieve all your dreams, just like I did.” Mackenzie said as soon as he was contacted by Sacred Heart he was determined to do whatever he could to be involved.
“When the phone rings and it’s New York, I say we’ll talk to them. But when it's Middlesbrough it’s right, I'm interested!” He told the children he was born nearby in St Paul’s Road before moving to Beechwood and he attended St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School.
“I left Middlesbrough to go to London as a student in 1979, but Middlesbrough has never left me. Even my accent is the same and I won’t change at all. It’s still my inspiration and it comes to me every day and every night. I can't stop drawing it. It's part of my DNA.
“I'm so proud to come from here. People ask me why I became an artist and I stand in the middle of Tokyo or New York talking about the Transporter Bridge.”
The children’s artwork has titles including I Love My Friends, The Gates of Glory, Love of the Hills and A Fun Day at Home.
After unveiling one picture, November on Newport Bridge, by 10-year-old Harrison, Mackenzie said: “See how it reflects love. That's what we do here. If you have love, it will grow and it will always bring you sunshine and you’ll stay together and be friends forever.”
Afterwards, Harrison said he was excited but nervous to meet Mackenzie. Asked about his picture, he said: “Bridges join communities all over the world and we've got some good ones in Middlesbrough. I like to see them lit up at night.”
Deputy headteacher Kerry Mallam said Mackenzie’s infectious passion for Middlesbrough made him the perfect person to be involved in the project. “We thought he might choose the children's artwork, but we didn't think in our wildest dreams he would do this,” she said. “We said thank you so much for being here and he said thank you so much for inviting me!
“This celebration feels even more important given the recent events within our area and as we seek to rebuild relationships within the community. We’d already chosen the Stronger Together title before the summer, but now it couldn't be more fitting. This is what we tell our children throughout their school life, that regardless of beliefs, race, religion, where you live, where you come from, we are stronger when we are together.”
Headteacher Vicky White said: “Mackenzie created a series of videos to inspire the children to create their own artwork reflecting what makes them proud about their town. He also talked about techniques and how to include themselves in their pictures. The pupils then created their own pictures and Mackenzie chose 12 to be included in the panelling around our play area.”
Miss White said the children’s pride in their area shines through in their artwork. “This celebration is just the start for us because we want to build on this theme of being stronger together throughout this academic year and beyond,” she said.
“We want to make sure everybody can see that at Sacred Heart we are stronger together, Middlesbrough is stronger when we all come together and that we will overcome the issues there have been recently.”
Mrs Mallam added: “Mackenzie is proud of coming from Middlesbrough, and that's what we want to instil in our children. He’s had struggles to overcome, but he's become successful around the world. The sky’s the limit for our children, and they couldn’t have a better role model to show them the way.”
Sacred Heart is one of 38 schools throughout Teesside and North Yorkshire, including the City of York, that make up Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust (NPCAT). CEO Hugh Hegarty said all the trust’s schools are committed to ensuring bias, racism and sectarianism have no place in our society.
“The damage caused by misinformation is so severe,” he said. “We will continue to ensure that the flames of prejudice are never fanned by misinformation, as profiled this summer across our nation. I must congratulate to Miss White and all the staff, volunteers and governors who have worked with the NPCAT Estates team to bring this about and most of all to the whole school community of pupils at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary.”
Sue Sedgwick attended the event to represent Umbrella Hugs CIC, who helped Stronger Together as part of a National Lottery-funded project to uplift people, increase their wellbeing and instil a sense of place. “It's been fabulous because the children have such a sense of pride in the area and Mackenzie's story inspires them so much,” she said.
Sacred Heart, which is on Ayresome Street, was rated good in all areas in a recent Ofsted report.
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