A few weeks prior to the conference date, Stuart contacted artist Paul Boswell, with the intention of updating the artist's original 10-year-old mural that had been painted for the 50th anniversary.  It became apparent, after speaking with Warminster Town Council, that the mural wall in the Central Car Park had unfortunately been earmarked for demolition, as part of a new housing development, throwing a bit of a spanner in the works.  This meant that Stuart and Paul had to potentially rethink the location of the new mural.

 

At this point 'Heart of Warminster', a Facebook group run by Lesley Blain, contacted Stuart and offered to help fund and find a location for the new mural. Lesley had played a large part in the coordination of the original mural in 2015, and it was only fitting to have Heart of Warminster involved in the new 60th Anniversary update.

Unfortunately, after a few weeks of liaising with local businesses and town authorities, a blank was drawn over finding a new, safe location for the artwork. Thankfully Stuart came upon a breakthrough after speaking to one of the trustees of the Athenaeum theatre. Their advice was to simply paint it over the original artwork. The publicity could possibly give rise to a new location being found in time.  The artist, Paul Boswell, wholehearted agreed that it was the best (and only) option they had.  Stuart surmised that being too close to the project, he hadn't seen the wood for the trees.  

 

It was thanks to Leslie and the Heart of Warminster group that over £1000 was raised to fund the artwork.  Stuart sends a big thank you to everyone who contributed and to Lesley Blain for organising. 

On Saturday 9th August 2025, the new alien mural was completed to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Warminster Thing mystery, and the opening was attended by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Warminster. 

We hope that the mural wall will be left in-situ for the town to enjoy. If its fate is sealed by the new development, then we hope that it can be repainted in a new permanent home somewhere in the town to be left for many years to come.