News Release

Tony hart charity auction triumph

A mammoth £3,837 has been raised for The Gurkha Welfare Trust following the Tony Hart Retrospective exhibition.

The exhibition, which was held at the Hazlitt Art Centre’s Graham Clarke Gallery, was organised by Maidstone Borough Council and made  possible thanks to Tony’s daughter Carolyn. The exhibition saw more than 1,000 visitors during the month (February 1 – February 26).

Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, Cllr Brian Moss, said: “This is a staggering sum of money which will go to a very worthy cause. Maidstone has been waiting a long time for a Tony Hart exhibition and thanks to Carolyn it has been made possible.”

Carolyn selected a stunning series of paintings and drawings which featured alongside the Tony Hart Tribute artwork created by Holly Gerrard, pupil at Invicta Girls’ Grammar School in Maidstone.

All the money raised, which will go to The Gurkha Welfare Trust, was the result of the secret auction held. Those who wanted to purchase a piece on Tony’s artwork were asked to bid for it and the highest bidder won.

Carolyn said: “That is just absolutely superb. I am thrilled and so pleased.”

The Gurkha Welfare Trust was the charity chosen in memory of Tony Hart, a member of the Gurkha Rifles who remained in touch with his Gurkha roots, actively fundraising for soldiers in Nepal throughout his lifetime.

Date:

March 2, 2010

Ref:

KS/100302