National Portrait Gallery photo Forever Holding Hands recreated to raise money for NHS Charities Together

Pat and Ron Wood, a former footballer, were married for 71 years and spent their final days in Worthing Hospital, where they both died from coronavirus.

Forever Holding Hands, a picture taken by granddaughter Hayley Evans, was selected for the Holds Still exhibition as it showed the value of love and helped capture the spirit of a nation in lockdown.

Worthing artists Stella and Gem Stevens, identical twins known as Two Faced Twins, were commissioned to recreate the photo in a colourful style, depicting the fun side of Hayley’s much-missed grandparents, to raise funds for NHS Charities Together.

Hayley said: “We were so lucky that we could FaceTime my grandparents when they were in hospital and they said how comforting it was to see us.

“However, we know many people are not able to and feel so isolated. Some of the donations to the appeal will go towards the purchase of electronic tablets, which will help others less fortunate.

“I saw my grandparents once in hospital, which is when I took the photograph through a visor. It was the last time I ever saw them.”

The artists were moved by the heartbreaking story and offered to paint the image for free, as they saw it as an opportunity to raise funds for the NHS who cared for the couple in their last days.

More than £400 has been raised so far. Visit www.collectionpot.com/pot/holding-hands to make a donation.

Pat, 91, and Ron, 94, were admitted to the Covid ward at Worthing Hospital in May 2020, a week apart. At first, they were nursed separately but were soon reunited when the kind nursing staff moved their beds together, so they could hold hands.

Hayley said: “Pat passed away in her sleep, lying next to her dear Ron and he followed her five days later. Together, forever holding hands.”

Hayley said she loved the colourful style of the Two Faced Twins and originally approached them to quote a price for reproducing her Forever Holding Hands photograph as art.

Instead, they offered to do it for free, as a fundraising opportunity for the NHS.

The original art, framed in a platinum colour to reflect Pat and Ron’s 70th wedding anniversary, will be presented to Worthing Hospital and a print will be given to Hayley.

Hayley said: “The photo depicts my grandparents’ love for each other, right up to the end. To think it will lead indirectly to bringing comfort and support to others through the fundraising appeal is more than my family and I could ever hope for.”