A new Colour Palette inspired by the local community has been unveiled at Rugby station thanks to the backing of Avanti West Coast and the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership.
The Rugby Colour Palette went on display last week at the station to help promote the character of the town. Funded by Avanti West Coast Project Fund, the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership worked with artist Stacey Barnfield to develop the project.
The colours were chosen from the ideas that arose from a public consultation, the aim of which was to get respondents to celebrate their hometown.
At its heart were a number of school and community workshops delivered by Ruby Road, a Warwickshire based storytelling collective, and its creative producer Jo Chalkblack.
Working with the project partners, Stacey brought to life the many ideas, creating three colour palettes with the themes History and Heritage, Creativity and Culture, and Industry and Innovation.
The colours chosen are a mix of direct references to suggestions from the public as well as more thought-provoking choices designed to encourage conversation around the palette.
The colours include:
Market Apple - Rugby was established as a Market Town in 1255 and still has weekly markets where you can find an array locally produced goods, fresh fruit, vegetables, artisan products, and clothing.
School Days Brown - Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes was published in 1857. The story is set in the 1830s at Rugby School, an English public school founded by a Tudor merchant and benefactor Lawrence Sheriff, who was notable for being grocer to Queen Elizabeth I. Hughes attended the school from 1834 to 1842 and the much of the novel is based on his experience.
Webb Ellis Bronze - According to legend, the sport of rugby was born in 1823 when Rugby schoolboy William Webb Ellis, whilst playing football took the ball in his arms and ran with it. In 1997 a bronze-cast statue of William Webb Ellis by sculptor Graham Ibbeson was installed outside the main Rugby School gates.
Sarah Sheldon, Station Manager for Avanti West Coast at Rugby added: “Rugby is one of our key stations on the West Coast Main Line. But outside of those who live here, very few are aware of its wonderful character and history. We hope the new colour palette will help share the town’s story and encourage more people to visit.”
To help launch The Rugby Colour Palette, Councillor Maggie O'Rourke, Mayor of Rugby was joined by school children from Riverside Academy and Rugby Free Primary at the station who enjoyed an immersive art workshop led by the Community Rail Partnership.
Julia Singleton-Tasker, Lead Officer, Heart of England Community Rail Partnership added: “It was great to see the transformation that the colour palette has brought to the subway and to see the reactions on everyone’s faces when they saw it for the first time. The passion for Rugby has shone through since day one, and I’d like to thank all those who have played their part in bringing The Rugby Colour Palette to life.”
Artist Stacey Barnfield added: “I’ve learnt so much about Rugby, a town steeped in history and full of character. The colours hopefully tell just some of the story and I’d encourage anyone who has yet to visit, to consider jumping on the train and enjoying some time here.”
More details of the colours, and the stories behind them can be found here.
Bottom image (left to right): Sarah Sheldon (Avanti West Coast Station Manager at Rugby), Stacey Barnfield, Cllr Maggie O'Rourke (Mayor of Rugby), Julia Singleton-Tasker (Heart of England CRP), Sarah Annis (Ruby Red) and Marlon Golding (Team Leader at Rugby Station)