Mayor buys Fran’s artwork for £2,000 — then gives it back to her family

Derian House says its annual ball at the Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel ended with a deeply personal moment after the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Mahfooz Hussain, paid £2,000 for an unfinished artwork by Francesca McCaigue, known as Fran, and then gave it back to her family.

The piece had been finished by Fran’s sister, Chlöe, in her memory, and the mayor told guests: “I bid for her artwork to raise money for the Children’s Hospice but always intended on returning it to her family.”

According to Derian House, the painting was auctioned at the sold-out charity ball before the mayor announced he was gifting it to Fran’s mum, Nicola, and sister, Chlöe. Nicola said: “Fran was looking forward to the Derian ball, and she had the most beautiful dress ready to wear.”

The ball raised £43,226 for Derian House and also generated more than £6,000 for the hospice’s Derian Wishes programme.

Source: Blackburn with Darwen Council / The Shuttle. Original announcement.