Troughton on The Legend of Morvidus Continues…

Warwickshire first team coach Jim Troughton put his artistic talents to excellent use during lockdown by supplying the illustrations for a new children's book.

Following its digital release earlier this year, The Legend of Morvidus Continues….The Bears’ Family, written by chair of the Edgbaston Foundation charity Rachael Wong, is now available in paperback.

All funds raised from the book sales will be donated to the Edgbaston Foundation to support its fundraising for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and the NSPCC’s Childline service in Birmingham.

Troughton was delighted to be involved – and to deploy his time very constructively during lockdown.

“It was amazing timing. It was early on in lockdown when I was just wondering how I was going to fill my time when Rachael rang. She asked me to do the illustrations and it was perfect as I had the time to really get my teeth into it.

Jim Troughton

“I thoroughly enjoyed it. The weather was nice at that time so I sat there in the sunshine in the garden and worked away at it and really got to grips with it. It was great way to spend my time – though it did mean that some DIY around the house and garden didn’t get done!

“Chris Woakes and Issy Wong have done a lovely foreword for  the book and hopefully it will raise a lot of money for the Foundation.

“Rachael and I thoroughly enjoyed creating a follow-up to our original Morvidus book from five years ago. It’s great that we now have a paperback version, which can complement the excellent fundraising initiatives which Club staff have generated for these two charities since the COVID outbreak.”

Nearly £10,000 has already been raised through the efforts of Warwickshire and Edgbaston staff completing the 2.6 Challenge, from the sales of an NHS-inspired charity t-shirt designed by Troughton and through a cricket-wide charity auction.

The book follows the fortunes of cricket-mad youngster Alex, who is inspired by the brave Lord Morvidus of Warwickshire and the family values and bonds that he develops after a mishap in a game of turnip ball with his sister.

Rachael Wong said: “Whereas our previous book focused on the legend of the ragged staff, this book gave us the opportunity to explore the timeless values of The Bear; looking after each other, taking responsibility and being part of a wider family.

“The story references lockdown from a child’s perspective and is dedicated to the NHS, so it is very much a book for our times.

“Special thanks go to Jim for the many hours that he dedicated to the project during lockdown to produce such excellent illustrations, demonstrating again his commitment to the Bears on and off the pitch.”