AN artistic doctor's love for Ipswich will go on display in the town at the weekend in the form of a life-size bronze bull.Retired GP Dev Mukerji is so grateful for all that Ipswich has given him that he decided to give something back to the town.

AN artistic doctor's love for Ipswich will go on display in the town at the weekend in the form of a life-size bronze bull.

Retired GP Dev Mukerji is so grateful for all that Ipswich has given him that he decided to give something back to the town.

So he is donating the impressive sculpture of a bull that he created himself to the people of Ipswich, and it is to be located outside the New Wolsey theatre on Civic Drive.

Dr Mukerji, 70, who lives in Westerfield, said: “I have lived in Ipswich for 46 years and worked both at Ipswich Hospital and in general practice.

“I had a good life here and have lots of friends and I have found people have been very kind and hospitable.

“I've joined lots of local organisations and really got involved in everything I could.

“So there are lots of reasons to be grateful for being in Ipswich and it is nice to be able to give something back.”

Dr Mukerji, who also married and had children in Suffolk's county town, said the full-sized bull was one of the first pieces he created when he took up sculpting as a hobby about four years ago.

The model is made from a combination of metal, wood, fibreglass, resin, chicken wire and then bronze on the outside, and it took him nearly nine months to complete.

Dr Mukerji, who is currently working on another sculpture, this time of a cheetah chasing an impala, said: “I wanted to do a fairly large animal and I found bulls are powerful and handsome and actually are graceful.

“I was pleased with the sculpture and I am very proud that it will be going up for everyone in Ipswich, and all of Suffolk, to see.”

The official unveiling of the bull is taking place at 1pm on Saturday and Councillor Judy Terry, Ipswich Borough Council's spokeswoman for culture, leisure and the arts, said: "It's wonderful. The bull is fantastic, it's absolutely beautiful.

"We are grateful to Dr Mukerji because we want to encourage more sculpture around the town.

"It will be a landmark as you come into Ipswich. It will be absolutely brilliant."

N What do you think ? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Weblink: www.ipswich.gov.uk