Meet 'Olibot' from Gromit Unleashed 3

In 2024, Oliver died at just 11 years old, three years after he received the devastating diagnosis of motor neurone disease.

This summer, Oliver’s primary school in Somerset took part in the Gromit Unleashed 3 Schools Programme in his memory, designing their own Norbot sculpture and raising funds for Bristol Children’s Hospital.

We spoke to Oliver’s mum, Kathryn, about her son’s journey at Bristol Children’s Hospital and how his love for Spider-Man inspired Evercreech C of E Primary School’s heroic take on Norbot.

Could you tell us about Oliver’s connection to Bristol Children’s Hospital?

“Oliver was three years old when he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He became a patient at Bristol Children’s Hospital when our family moved back to Somerset in 2017. At the time, his cerebral palsy was just affecting his legs and walking. However, over time, this weakness spread to his other limbs and started to affect his respiratory function.

After tests and a referral by his neurologist, Arni Majumdar, to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, we were given the devastating diagnosis of motor neurone disease, in August 2021. Oliver was eight years old.

We gave his neurologist permission to include Oliver in a clinical study, which at that time only identified eight children globally with his form of motor neurone disease. This rarity made the diagnosis seem even crueller.

Oliver has had several admissions to Bristol Children’s Hospital since then, including two admissions to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in October and November 2022, where he was intubated on a ventilator due to respiratory infections.

The team in PICU were amazing, particularly his core PICU consultant, Adrian Humphry, the nurses and the brilliant respiratory physio team. They showed both Oliver and us as a family so much care and worked incredibly hard to get him to a position where he could come home on Christmas Eve 2022. We were so grateful, and that was a Christmas we’ll always remember.

Sadly in 2024, Oliver fell ill again over the Easter Weekend and ended up back in PICU intubated on a ventilator. Again, Adrian and the whole team were so wonderful, but this time it was clear Oliver would not recover due to the progression of his disease and weakness.

With the support of the team, and the kindness of the wider palliative care team, the decision was made for Oliver to be transferred to Charlton Farm Children’s Hospice (a place he knew and loved) for compassionate extubation. He died, peacefully, surrounded by us in a Spider-Man-themed room on 20 April 2024.”

How did Evercreech Primary School get involved in the Gromit Unleashed 3 Schools Programme?

“Oliver attended Evercreech Primary School in Shepton Mallet from Reception until his death, when he was in Year 6. During his time at the school, and as his condition progressed, he was supported so well and loved by so many of the children and staff. He used to feel like a celebrity driving through the school in his powered wheelchair. All the children would say ‘Hi, Oliver!’ and go out of their way to play with him.

The school are only too aware of the support the children’s hospital gave Oliver, not least the extra 16 months they gave us all with Oliver between December 2022 and April 2024, when it could have been very different. They are very keen, like us, to raise money for such an important cause in a way which honours Oliver’s memory.”

Whose idea was it to make this Norbot a tribute to Oliver?

“The children! The school council thought it would be a lovely idea. I also think it really helped the school community channel some of their grief into something they can keep and display.”

***‘Olibot’ at The Greatest Dog Show on Earth 3***® ***exhibition.***

How did Oliver’s personality inspire ‘Olibot’?

“Oliver was Spider-Man MAD. Everything was Spider-Man-themed: everything he wore, everything he watched, everything in his bedroom.

Since Oliver’s death, the school have been wonderful in honouring Oliver’s memory with red and blue flower borders, a red and blue bench in the playground, and a superhero-themed dress-down day on his birthday, which raised money for The Grand Appeal. It only seemed right that this Norbot, or ‘Olibot’, had a Spider-Man theme.

***‘Olibot’ at Evercreech Primary School, next to Oliver’s bench.***

One of Oliver’s assistants at the school, Marilyn, is very talented and helped Oliver design and draw things, especially when he lost the ability himself. She used to surprise Oliver with drawings and messages from Peter Parker waiting in the classroom for him some mornings. It made his day. She has really helped guide the children with the design of ‘Olibot’, and we’re so grateful to her for the end result.

The Norbots are all quite cheeky and smiley, and this was Oliver’s personality down to a tee. He was so cheerful and cheeky, despite the challenges he faced, and he loved playing pranks or telling jokes. He even had his own notepad where we could record any jokes he had written (some better than others!). One of his classic jokes is painted on the back of his ‘Olibot’ sculpture: ‘Where does Spiderman do his shopping?… On the web!’

Oliver was also a very loving boy. He used to insist on telling people how much more he loved you than you loved him, and he was so kind and thoughtful. The hearts painted on by his school friends, as well as his aunt and I (who were kindly invited in by the school), represent that, as well as giving us an opportunity to represent our eternal love for him. I painted one over the top of ‘Olibot’’s heart.”

How did it feel to hear that the school wanted to make their Norbot a tribute to Oliver?

“We were (and still are) so touched. We already feel so indebted to the school for the care they showed Oliver over the years, and the way in which they adapted to his changing needs and always made him feel included. To have another permanent addition to the school in Oliver’s memory which the children can enjoy means so much to us.”

*‘Olibot’ will live in Reception, next to Oliver’s pet, Gary the Goldfish, which the school has happily adopted*.

‘Olibot’ is one of over 90 mini Norbots designed by local school children across the South West as part of the Gromit Unleashed 3 Schools Programme.

The children proudly displayed their designs at The Greatest Dog Show on Earth 3® in September 2025.

This army of Norbots has raised tens of thousands of pounds to help children like Oliver. Thanks to kind and passionate schools like Evercreech, we can continue to help fund everything from play and music therapy to cutting-edge medical equipment in Bristol Children’s Hospital.