PEOPLE who lived and died thousands of years before the Bible was written are helping young people with a rare medical condition.

Their conduit is a Swindon artist who has spent many years researching and charting ancient sites such as Stonehenge, Avebury and Silbury Hill.

Julian Crook has donated 26 works to Alan Holmes of Holmes Music in Faringdon Road to raise money for the Goldenhar Family Support Group.

Alan’s eight-year-old grandson, Morgan Sharpe, has the condition, whose symptoms can include defects in the eyes, ears, jaw and spine.

Surveying the donated artworks, Mr Holmes said: “Last year Julian gave us some prints to sell for Goldenhar, and I’ve sold them all.

“He came in the shop last week and said, ‘Alan, I want to donate some original work.’

“It’s incredible work.”

The pieces include paintings of Vulcan bombers in flight and a portrayal of George Best, but the bulk of the work relates to Mr Crook’s research into the ancient cultures of what is now England.

That research was done in collaboration with his late father, Eric, who died in 2013, aged 88.

Eric, a World War Two veteran, builder and carpenter, was also a self-taught historian who spent decades probing ancient archaeological mysteries. He asserted that Stonehenge was a complex navigational aid, that Silbury Hill had originally been the resting place of a Neolithic princess and that the Avebury stones once formed a huge amphitheatre of carved animal and human faces.

In 2008 he published a book, Wiltshire, a Journeyman’s Tale, and Julian provided the illustrations.

These range from detailed drawings of standing stones and artefacts to beautiful diagrams and charts showing the positions of stones and sites in relation to one another.

Many of the 26 artworks donated by Julian to the support group are the originals of those illustrations.

Julian said of his donation: “It’s the fact that there are a lot of young people and older people going through these problems, having their operations, going to London and having these things done.

“I feel with all my heart and soul for them.

“I wanted to find a home for these pieces and I don’t think I could choose a better one.”

Morgan Sharpe celebrated his eighth birthday in February with a party at the Brewers Arms in Wanborough, and the guests included Mayor of Swindon Teresa Page.

Mr Holmes said: “He’s doing very well. He had a meeting a couple of months ago with Neil Bulstrode from Great Ormond Street – he’s the guy that does all the facial reconstruction out in Africa for children. He wants to make Morgan an ear next year.”

The family support group promotes awareness of Goldenhar, and also arranges an annual outing for families.

“When the families get together,” said Mr Holmes, “all the kids are the same, so there’s no staring. It’s nice to see them get together, relax and have fun.”

Further information is available at goldenhar.co.uk