Old Edwardians Centenary Appeal
Restore King Edward VII Portrait!
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adly deteriorating, the magnificent portrait of King Edward VII,
painted whilst he was still King Regent, has hung above the western staircase
of King Edward VII School since 1947. It had been discovered in the props room
of the Empire Theatre, Alfreton, having mysteriously appeared there during the
war from the ballroom of the Rufford Abbey. As the theatre had little use for
a life size painting of this particular monarch, they offered it to the school
for 40 guineas.
The painting was executed by Captain Augustus Savile Lumley, 1855 - 1881, a captain in the Life Guards, who exhibited widely including at the Royal Academy.
The Old Edwardians Committee have elected to mark the centenary of the school with an appeal to restore the painting and frame to their original standard and have gained quotations for this work in the order of £10,000. When restored to the school the lighting and positioning of the painting will be improved.
Our Appeal
We are asking all Old Edwardians to consider supporting our appeal for the impact it will have on contemporary and future students and staff. The occasion it will mark, the school centenary, justifies the restoration of an artefact of this stature.
By a contribution of a minimum £25, we intend to gain matched funding in order to begin the restoration task and plan for the portrait's return in 2006.
All patrons will receive a signed numbered certificate confirming their participation, and will be invited to the VIP party at the school on the occasion of the painting’s restoration. The invitations will be sent out six weeks in advance of the occasion.