Giant jigsaw completed as missing pieces added

The world’s biggest jigsaw has finally been completed by a Reepham-based team of enthusiasts and presented to the children’s ward at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, where it will go on display for four weeks.
 

Graham Andrew with the completed jungle scene jigsaw, which is now on display at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

 
However, completion of the vibrant jungle scene puzzle was not without its challenges with several volunteers failing to turn up and a number of pieces mysteriously disappearing.
 
Co-ordinated by local entertainer Graham Andrew, the “Wildlife” jigsaw with 33,600 pieces was completed by around 200 helpers aged from three to 90, taking 120 hours over several weeks in August at Stimpson’s Piece pavilion in Reepham.
 
However, a number of pieces had inadvertently fallen into volunteers’ shopping bags or handbags as they were working on the enormous puzzle, and these were returned, but Mr. Andrew was still four pieces short.
 
As a precaution he had bought a £160 replica jigsaw in case pieces were lost. But when he tried to use pieces from the second puzzle to fill in the gaps they did not match as each puzzle is uniquely cut.
 
The four missing pieces were hastily ordered from puzzle manufacturer Educa Borras in Barcelona Spain, where they had to be specially cut to match the surrounding pieces.
 
These were delivered in early September and the whole jigsaw, which measures 5.7 metres wide by 1.5 metres high and built in several sections, was finally glued together, mounted and presented on 15 September to the hospital, where Mr Andrew works as a “giggle doctor”, offering comic relief to young patients awaiting treatments and operations.
 
Sponsorship was raised to fund the project, with profits being split between Reepham Nursery School and the Aylsham-based Holding Hands With Our Courageous Children charity. Reepham Community Press, publishers of Reepham Life, were one of the sponsors.
 
"We are still a few hundred pounds off before making any profit, so if people want to donate they can still do so at www.gofundme.com," said Mr Andrew.
 
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Joining the sections of the jigsaw

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