‘Cows about Cambridge’ sculpture donated to Hills Road in memory of former student, Jack Merritt

Dave and Anne Merritt generously donated the creation to Hills Road Sixth Form College; a place where Jack spent his sixth form years and where his father, Dave, worked as the Estates Manager. Following his time at Hills Road, Jack attended the University of Manchester and the University of Cambridge before going on to work as a course coordinator for the Butler Law Course with the University of Cambridge's prison rehabilitation programme, Learning Together. Jack was tragically killed at the Fishmongers' Hall terror attack in London in 2019.

Dave and Anne Merritt were gifted the cow by the organisers of an auction of the sculptures in aid of ‘Break’. Break are a children’s charity which works across East Anglia to provide a brighter future for young people and Dave and Anne made a very generous donation to this cause following the kind gesture and additionally have gifted the cow sculpture itself to Hills Road Sixth Form College.

The cow entitled 'Entwining of Two Worlds' was the brainchild of Tom Cringle: art teacher at HMP Warren Hill. Tom and Jack originally planned for inmates to decorate the cow for the art trail, but Jack died before the cow was completed. In memory of Jack, Tom and some of Warren Hill's residents followed the project through, incorporating thoughtful phrases and testimonials which reflected the impact of Jack’s work at Warren Hill and his belief in the value of education in prison.

Having been part of the popular art trail, the cow will now take pride of place in the College grounds. Dave Merritt was a member of the team responsible for the creation of a new tranquillity garden area for the College community, and the cow – known affectionately as Blossom - will be a lasting reminder here of Jack’s legacy.