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 Early
Sunday morning on 29th April 2012 there was a break in at the Stanley
Spencer Gallery in Cookham Village. The burglar having thrown a drain
cover through a window managed to get in, in spite of the burglar
alarm going off. The painting Cookham from Engelfield was
stolen by the burglar who had broken the glass and discarded the frame
before leaving the building
As
it is virtually impossible to sell on the painting, everyone is asked
to keep a look out for the painting, check their bins and also the
hedgerows to ensure that the painting has not been dumped
somewhere.
Stuart
Conlin, Chair of Trustees, has written the following:
The Trustees of
the Gallery regret to inform you that we suffered a burglary last
weekend. One painting was stolen, Cookham from Englefield, painted by
Spencer in 1948. The picture, illustrated here, was removed from its
frame and only the canvas stolen, which
measures about 90 by 60 cm (3 by 2 feet). It was on loan to the
Gallery and the owner and Gallery wish above all else to have the
painting returned. Everyone who reads this is urged please to watch
out for the picture in case it has been discarded and to look at the
contents of their bins and skips, alleyways etc in the hope that it
might turn up. Two other works suffered minor damage, and three other
works have been temporarily removed from the exhibition.
Although the Gallery was breached by extreme force, the alarms system
worked correctly and Gallery staff were called immediately. We are
also most grateful to a witness who immediately called 999. Although
the loss of this one piece is greatly regretted, our extensive
security systems minimised the extent of the theft and have been
adjusted to prevent a similar breach. The Arts Council England
National Security Advisor has since visited the Gallery and praised
our security system as being of the highest standard in the industry.
He was very happy for us to reopen the Gallery, which occurred on
Wednesday 2nd May.
Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses and would like to
speak to anyone who saw any suspicious vehicles in the area, or a
person or people acting suspiciously, around the time of the burglary,
which occurred at 1 am on Sunday 29th April.
If you can help, please call Det Con Watkinson via the 24-hour Police
Enquiry Centre on 101 (dial 01865 841148 from outside Thames Valley
Area). He has said: "The painting is very distinctive and it
holds a great deal of sentimental value to the owners. The owners and
the gallery are both devastated by its loss. If you don't want to
speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at
crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is
not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.''
Stuart Conlin,
Chair of Trustees.
stuart@stanleyspencer.org.uk
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