One of Dundee University’s best known former students, Chris van der Kuyl, has gifted back the Dr Manhattan Oor Wullie statue to the institution.
The minecraft entrepreneur attended a reveal of the statue this week at the front of the university – where it had sat during the trail – alongside students and Principal Sir Pete Downes.
The university also revealed that it had matched the £9,500 that Mr van der Kuyl had originally paid at the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail auction last month and donated it to their scholarship and bursary endowment fund.
Sir Pete Downes said that, after losing out on the statue at the auction, the university was initially unaware of who had won it.
He said: “When we found out that it was Chris who had won the Oor Wullie and that he was donating it back to us, we were so thrilled.
“In response to Chris’ generous effort, we have decided to match the whole of what he paid for him.
“In effect, Chris’ initial generosity is going to benefit many students studying here.”
The Oor Wullie Dr Manhattan statue was created by Sarah Coonan, a ceramicist based in Aberdeenshire, and was inspired by the character’s creator, comic book artist and Dundee University honorary graduate Dave Gibbons.
Chris van der Kuyl, who is the chairman of Dundee and East Linton based video game development company, 4J Studios, said that he was inclined to step in when he realised the university were going to lose out on its desired Oor Wullie.
He said: “When I realised the university didn’t have enough funds to secure the statue, I wanted to help out and then I was so pleased when I heard that they had matched the money and given it to the bursary fund.
“I don’t think anyone knows where it will go long-term but I’m sure they will find a great place for it.”
