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Artist reunited with lost painting thanks to charity shop

10 January 2012

Artist Ted Archer has been reunited with a long lost painting after 20 years thanks to a visit to his local Saint Francis Hospice shop.
D-Day veteran Ted, who has been a regular customer at our Elm Park shop for many years, spotted the painting in the storeroom on one of his visits. He had not seen it since 1991, when he gave some work to the president of the Royal Navy Association.
The painting The Glory of Sail depicts an 18th Century ship mid-voyage in oils and Ted was able to identify it as his own because his signature and address were on the back.
Ted, from Elm Park, said: “I’m so pleased to have my painting back because it was one of my favourite pieces. How it came to Elm Park was a dream.”
He continued: “I enjoy visiting the Saint Francis Hospice shop in Elm Park each week to see if they have any nautical or World War Two memorabilia for sale. It’s also my way of supporting such a fabulous and vital cause as Saint Francis Hospice, which brings happiness and comfort to people during a difficult time in their lives.”
Shop Manager Lynn Saunders, said: “It’s great that we were able to help Ted, a loyal hospice supporter, find one of his paintings again. We could have so easily sold the painting, but had put it aside to show Ted.
We value donations of art work and other items to sell in our shops as they help raise money to support Saint Francis Hospice in providing specialist care to people in our community affected by life-limiting illness.”
Ted, who took up painting after he retired from a career at Fords, thanked the staff with a vintage bottle of wine and his family has made a donation to the hospice as a token of their gratitude.
If you can help reunite Ted with any more of his paintings, particularly one of the Titanic with the wrong signals, please contact the shops head office on 01708 376269.
 

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