Serial part 3
Her mother had been given a mysterious gift, and Clare was determined to find out the story behind it
HAMPSHIRE, 2002
Clare had already sent instructions to Tollington town hall about preparing the selected wall for her mural. It would cover a wall in the lobby facing the public as they entered the building, and had already been checked for bumps and cracks, washed down and given a coat of primer.
She arrived on her first full day to find sheets and step ladders in position.
But for her next stage, she would need help, she admitted to Peter, popping into his office mid-morning. ‘I’ll paint straight onto the wall,’ she explained. ‘But I’ll do a sketch first on a smaller scale, then transfer it to the wall to fill in.’
He arched an eyebrow. ‘If you’ve come to ask me to hold a wobbly stepladder, I’m your man. Just don’t request artistic assistance!’
She shook her head. ‘I’ve ordered tins of paint from the art supplier in town. I went in yesterday on my way back to the cottage to ensure they’d arrived, but I’ll need a car to bring them to the town hall. It’s a cheek to ask, and I could get a taxi…’
‘No, I’m your man for that too. I’ll come now, if you like.’
She smiled. ‘Sooner I get started, the better.’ She paused. ‘That photo of the pebble painter you showed me was intriguing. But I need a deep dive into your photo archives to get a sense of local characters and history.’
Her pencil flew across the page
As they walked to Peter’s car, he asked, ‘I assume you’ve researched local history already?’
‘Yeah,’ she confirmed. ‘Key dates and so on. But photos of locals will bring it to life.
I’m hoping to add some faces to the painting.’
‘I know a few legends. Years ago, a guy called Peddler Pete sold his wares from a handcart outside The Bull. Word is, he’d balance a pint on his head and urge kids to throw in
