The Story of Jemimah

Jemimah is a 6' sculpture, carved by Simon O'Rourke from the remains of a 100-year-old pear tree that grew in The Swan's beer garden until it blew down in the storms of January 2007.

Luckily, we'd taken some photos of the pear tree the previous spring, in its full glory. Here's one of them.

..and here's what was left after the tree had been logged for firewood.

The idea for a tree carving came from our Head Chef, Chris Lumb, whose brother Nick is a tree surgeon based in Wrexham.

As it so happened, one of Nick's employees at the time was the world's No. 3 tree carver, Simon O'Rourke, whose work is widely known in and around Wales where he lives.

Simon visited, and agreed to take a commission to carve a flying swan from the trunk (it has to be said, there was some scepticism from staff at The Swan as to whether he was pulling our leg..).

On 11th May 2007, the trunk was cut to length, put into a front-loader and driven a few hundred yards down into the field below Marbury Church, where it was stood upright and left overnight.

The next day marked the Opening Day of Marbury Merry Days, the annual village festival which brings 1000's of visitors from all over the North West. At mid-day, the gates opened and Simon, as one of many exhibitions, began to work his magic..

Using just three chainsaws of different lengths, and a blowtorch to blacken the head, Simon took only five hours to bring Jemimah out of a 1/4 ton of solid pear wood.

The result was nothing short of miraculous, and even Simon quietly said that he was "extremely pleased" with the sculpture. He also received more commissions on the day, from impressed onlookers.

Simon also carved three quick "demonstration pieces" - two owls and a kestrel - which took 10 minutes each, and were auctioned in the bar of The Swan, raising a total of £600 for Marbury Church funds.

Simon will be back in May 2008 for the next Marbury Merry Days, to enthrall us all again with his extraordinary talents.

Jemimah now lords it over the diners in our restaurant, and it's considered good luck to rub her head as you enter and leave The Swan.

The pear tree became Jemimah;

Simon received more work;

The Church received £600,

..and The Swan is blessed with probably the finest swan tree sculpture in the country.

What a story.

Click here to go to Simon's website and look at more of his work!