the colourful mural taken from a distance
the colourful mural taken from a distance
Glen Road mural outside Newham University Hospital 2017

After two years of painting and preparation by over 1000 local people, the Glen Road Community Mural was installed in late July courtesy of construction company Thomas Sinden.   The mural is comprised of 75  panels, each 2.44 metres high, with a total length of close to 100 metres, painted by local adults, young people and children, including from Kaizen and New City Primary Schools, NewVIC, Cumberland School, The Mix (REIN) and Rythm Youth Clubs, Newham University Hospital, and open  sessions at Plaistow Library and The Mix community centre.

Primarily funded and commissioned by PSBL, with major contributions from partners LBN Plaistow Community Neighbourhood and Barts Health NHS Trust, the mural was overseen by artist-organiser Madhumita Bose-Thomas.

There are four ‘sections’ to the mural – starting at the end nearest Prince Regent Lane, panels move from dealing with local history, through health issues and then education, to a final section (nearest the hospital’s main entrance) celebrating local community and diversity.

It is a true “community” mural, in that, within the broad themes and schema, panels were prepared, drawn and painted from scratch by locals, and then worked on by Madhumita to integrate them into the final scheme – the exception being the final panel which was contributed by professional artist Serena Sussex.

Major thanks to Thomas Sinden for their help!

Update on the mural

Sadly during Covid when the Mural needed repairs, it couldn’t get the attention it needed. At the moment this much loved mural is in bad repair. We are in conversations with partners about a new mural perhaps combining the work and love that went into this beautiful piece of community art. We hope to share plans during 2022.