Three striking mermaid tails from this spring’s Great Tail Trail are creating a breathtaking public spectacle at their new harbourfront home at Sandbanks, having raised a significant amount at auction for Julia’s House children’s hospice charity.
The tails have been bought by local entrepreneur and family man, Tom Glanfield, who made headlines in 2023 for purchasing a dilapidated bungalow dubbed ‘the most expensive house in the world’ due to the staggering price per square foot he paid for it. Tom, who purchased the rundown property on Sandbanks’ ‘Millionaire’s Row’ and hopes to replace it with a very publicly supported family eco home, has given the mermaid tails pride of place on his harbour wall overlooking the water.
“We’re so grateful to Tom for purchasing three of our beautiful mermaid tail sculptures,” says Laura Maidment, Public Fundraising Manager for Julia’s House, who visited the sculptures at their new home along with Julia’s House Young Ambassador, Ebony Robinson and her mum, Lorna. “Tom is a valued, long-standing supporter of Julia’s House and it’s wonderful that he is continuing the spirit and legacy of The Great Tail Trail by displaying the tails where the community is still able to enjoy them. We hope they will bring lots of joy to Tom’s family and to all the people who pass by them in the harbour. The tails are such a majestic sight – it’s almost as if they are rising up out of the water!”
“As a proud and passionate supporter of Julia’s House, I’m delighted to bring three mermaid tails to my harbour wall on the Sandbanks Peninsula,” says Tom. “These sculptures, I hope, will offer a deep sense of community and positivity to every passing boat, symbolising the meaningful cause they represent as vessels enter and leave the harbour.”
The three tails purchased by Tom are ‘Breathe With Me’ designed by Lauren Marina, ‘Tattooed Mermaid’ by Becky Dodd (Doddy Design) and ‘Fossil Fables’ by Karis Harrington (Karisgonegonzo).
The Great Tail Trail took place across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole between April and June this year, providing a free family art adventure and lots of community spirit. All the tails were sold at a Grand Auction which raised an impressive £201,100, helping Julia’s House to continue to provide its essential care and support to local children and their families.
“The auction total sounds like a lot of money, but we need to raise just over £5m this year to cover our care costs, which are rising all the time,” Laura reveals. “We receive just 8 per cent of our ongoing funding from the government, so we totally rely on the goodwill and support of the community to ensure we can continue to care for the seriously ill children and families that depend on us. Fundraising and community support through events like The Great Tail Trail are vital to ensure the future of Julia’s House, as the cost of care and demand for our services continue to rise.”
You can discover more about the vital work of Julia’s House by visiting www.juliashouse.org