Spreading artistic joy around the world in tribute to Lincoln boy

People around the globe are sharing pictures and artistic finds with #WilliamRocks labels, in tribute to a six-year-old boy who died last summer.

The Facebook group #WilliamRocks was set up in July 2018 to honour the memory of William Coy, who tragically died after falling out his bedroom window in Lincoln.

The coroner concluded this week that the heartbreaking incident was accidental.

The #WilliamsRocks Facebook group has so far reached over 30 countries in its quest to spread joy around the world in William’s name instead of negativity.

Laura Wilson set up the group on behalf of William’s family and friends because he was a “great character, a really funny, lovely boy who was so much more than what happened to him.”

RAF Scampton artwork by William’s friends and signed by the Red Arrows. Photo: Linz Helen

William and his friends loved to paint rocks, leaving them around the local area for people to find.

The idea now lives on in the memory of the Monks Abbey Primary School pupil, who donated his organs after death – his kidneys and pancreas were used.

Taken at Sky Blu forward operating station in Antarctica. Photo: Charles Quick (art work by some of William’s friends)

The Great Wall of China. Photo: Jenny Coy

People are continuing to share their photos in the group, which has now reached as far as places including Canada, Japan and the Great Wall of China.

Laura, William’s mum Kate and family friend Julie Warrington Morrow run the group which has nearly 1,000 members. People create art, write #WilliamRocks on it and photograph it where it is left before posting into the group.

Bhagawatpur, Saptari in Nepal. Photo: Krit Sharma

Easter Egg rock left in the Arboretum play area over Easter weekend by Julie Warrington Morrow.

Julie told The Lincolnite the idea of the group is to share pictures of any makes or finds with #WilliamRocks written on to spread some happiness and sparkle for the family to celebrate their beautiful boy.

She said the group has hit at least 38 countries with over 290 posts varying locations of people either leaving something or finding something for someone else to find.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Photo: Julian Wilkin

Gullfoss waterfall in Iceland. Photo: Samantha Watkins

She said: “William and his friends loved to paint rocks and things and leave them around the local area for people to find. Over the summer to help the kids and the community we all got involved in creating pieces of art to spread the word.

“Some people took pieces on holiday with them, and the more people that spread the word the larger it got until before we knew it we had rocks being taken to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Canada, North America including Hawaii, art appearing in Tokyo, Japan and Nepal.

The heart was left or found in the Arboretum by Danny Hammond and family.

A version of the picture that went to Antarctica. It was on set for the Christmas run of Penguins! Penguins! Penguins! at LPAC. Photo: Craig Morrow

“We have had people take things up mountains, Snowdon and Mount Kilimanjaro, the Great Wall of China, the Red Arrows even signed a picture William’s friends made of them which is currently hanging in the school. More recently we have had pieces in Antarctica, the Great Pyramids of Giza and Pennsylvania.”

“We are looking to spread this as far as it can possibly go, if anyone knows anyone going travelling or is headed somewhere please do think of us everyone is welcome in the group and we are always looking to add more locations to our map.”