Artist branches out with tree tribute

THE latest in a series of unique tree carvings has been dedicated to an Oscar winning director who lived in Hull.

Anthony Minghella, whose film The English Patient won nine Academy Awards in 1996, died in March last year, aged 54.

Now, a tree carved in his honour has been unveiled in Park Avenue, west Hull.

The carving was created by artist Jacky Ward Lomax, who lives in the Avenues.

It features a film strip and the masks of comedy and tragedy associated with theatre.

She said: "It was an honour to carve it. He was one of the country's most successful directors.

"His career was so varied at first I did not know what to include. I decided to keep it simple.

"It was really enjoyable carving it. A lot of people would stop and talk about him while I was working.

"I only ever met him once and that was to buy a bike off him. That was my claim to fame."

The tree is close to where Mr Minghella used to live while he studied and taught at the University of Hull.

He went on to become one of the UK's most successful film directors.

Mr Minghella, who studied at the university as an undergraduate between 1972 and 1975, also directed hit films such as The Talented Mr Ripley, Cold Mountain and Truly Madly Deeply.

The carving, which took a month to create, is one of seven carved by Jacky including the Owl tree in Victoria Avenue and the Cats tree in Salisbury Street.

She said: "The Anthony Minghella carving is on a Lime Tree.

"It will keep sprouting and I think it will look quite jolly in the summer time."