A NEW sculpture, inspired by the treatment of cancer, has been presented to University College Hospital by an Ealing artist who has been a cancer patient for more than four decades.

The sculpture, To Catch a Falling Star, is on the landing of the lower ground floor of UCLH’s Macmillan Cancer Centre in Huntley Street. It was presented to the centre by Roger Partridge.

The title of the sculpture, while being a metaphor for the medical treatment of cancer or the doctor-patient relationship, also acknowledges what Roger describes as “the fractal link between the very large stars in the universe and the very small cells and molecular structures within our bodies”.

The organically-formed limestone sculpture, 'caught' in the air, stands on brass legs on a steel plate. The stone, formed from deposits 170 million years ago is covered with a thin layer of metal leaf, representing a sparkling yet fragile present timescale.

The sculpture was unveiled by UCLH chairman Richard Murley.

Roger said: “I have sat in many waiting rooms over the years, waiting to hear the results of a previous biopsy, benign or malignant, hoping for the former but too often expecting the latter.

“I have, however, been lucky enough to meet some extraordinary people and had some amazing and effective, though not always pleasant, treatment.

“With this sculpture I would like to thank all the dedicated, hard-working and brilliant people who have kept me alive through cancer for nearly 40 years.”

He studied sculpture at Camberwell School of Art 1979-81 and The Slade School 1981/83 and was awarded the Rome Scholarship in 1983-5.

He stayed in Italy, moving to Florence and working in the marble workshops of Pietrasanta, before returning to London in 1989, where he has continued to live and work.