New Copford Place, a care home in Colchester, recently took home the top prize at the Copford and Easthorpe Scarecrow Festival with their Marilyn Monroe-inspired scarecrow. The care home, which is operated by the charity Friends of the Elderly, collaborated with residents to come up with the idea for their entry, Marilyn.
The activities coordinator at New Copford Place, Chelsey Leather, explained that the decision to participate in the festival was made after a discussion with the residents, who were eager to get involved. There were various ideas floated around for the scarecrow, including famous characters like the scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, Worzel Gummidge, Aunt Sally, and Dolly Clothes-Peg. However, the group ultimately decided to go with a unique creation inspired by Marilyn Monroe, a favorite among the residents due to their shared love of films.
After carefully crafting Marilyn’s features, the care team dressed her in a pink and grey flowery dress, a pink cardigan, elegant sandals, and a pearl bracelet. The end result was a stunning scarecrow that caught the attention of both festival attendees and judges. Marilyn ended up winning first place in the People’s Choice Scarecrow Award and joint second place in the Business Scarecrow Award category.
Daniel Sabau, the registered manager at New Copford Place, expressed his delight at Marilyn’s success, joking that she even celebrated with a glass of wine. The care team and residents were proud of their creation, which stood out in the festival field.
Scarecrows have a long history in farming, traditionally used to ward off birds that could harm crops. In European folklore, scarecrows have been associated with the boogeyman, a spooky figure often depicted in ragged clothing. However, Marilyn was anything but scary – she exuded elegance and charm, becoming a beloved figure at the festival.
Looking ahead, the residents are already planning their next scarecrow creation for the following year’s festival, which will mark the 16th anniversary of the Copford and Easthorpe Scarecrow Festival. The success of Marilyn has inspired them to continue participating in the event and showcasing their creativity to the community.
