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Michael Foot portrait to be auctioned for Plymouth memorial fund Michael Foot portrait to be auctioned for Plymouth memorial fund
(2 months later)
A portrait of the late Labour party leader Michael Foot, wearing his trademark Plymouth Argyle scarf and bulky coat, is to be sold at auction to help pay for a memorial to him in his home city.A portrait of the late Labour party leader Michael Foot, wearing his trademark Plymouth Argyle scarf and bulky coat, is to be sold at auction to help pay for a memorial to him in his home city.
The lack of a Foot monument in Plymouth three years after his death is a cause for sadness and frustration among his many friends and admirers in Devon.The lack of a Foot monument in Plymouth three years after his death is a cause for sadness and frustration among his many friends and admirers in Devon.
In the same year that millions of pounds were spent on the funeral of his political enemy, Margaret Thatcher, it is proving challenging for them to raise the £50,000 or so they need to create a fitting memorial to mark the centenary of Foot's birth.In the same year that millions of pounds were spent on the funeral of his political enemy, Margaret Thatcher, it is proving challenging for them to raise the £50,000 or so they need to create a fitting memorial to mark the centenary of Foot's birth.
But there is fresh hope that the auction of a unique print of the Plymouth painter Robert Lenkiewicz's portrait – depicting a straggly-haired Foot – will provide a major boost to their efforts.But there is fresh hope that the auction of a unique print of the Plymouth painter Robert Lenkiewicz's portrait – depicting a straggly-haired Foot – will provide a major boost to their efforts.
Peter Jones, a family friend and director of Foot's beloved Argyle, insisted that the memorial would be built.Peter Jones, a family friend and director of Foot's beloved Argyle, insisted that the memorial would be built.
"We will succeed but it is incredibly hard to raise money at the moment. We've had tremendous support from the people of Plymouth from both sides of the political divide. We now hope that a little more national awareness will attract more funds.""We will succeed but it is incredibly hard to raise money at the moment. We've had tremendous support from the people of Plymouth from both sides of the political divide. We now hope that a little more national awareness will attract more funds."
Jones said Foot did great things for the city, helping to rebuild it after the second world war and representing it passionately as the MP for Devonport in the 1940s and 50s.Jones said Foot did great things for the city, helping to rebuild it after the second world war and representing it passionately as the MP for Devonport in the 1940s and 50s.
"Michael always felt that Plymouth was the greatest city on Earth, with Venice running it a close second. He is part of the very fabric of this place.""Michael always felt that Plymouth was the greatest city on Earth, with Venice running it a close second. He is part of the very fabric of this place."
The campaign to raise the money to build a monolith out of granite, limestone and steel, possibly with some of Foot's bon mots carved into it, was launched earlier this year by the Labour-controlled city council.The campaign to raise the money to build a monolith out of granite, limestone and steel, possibly with some of Foot's bon mots carved into it, was launched earlier this year by the Labour-controlled city council.
The plan was to unveil it next Tuesday in a corner of Freedom Fields park, the site of a famous civil war parliamentarian victory, exactly a century after Foot was born nearby.The plan was to unveil it next Tuesday in a corner of Freedom Fields park, the site of a famous civil war parliamentarian victory, exactly a century after Foot was born nearby.
That deadline will be missed but there is still hope that the memorial will be erected before the end of the year even if has to be downsized to a granite bench looking out to sea.That deadline will be missed but there is still hope that the memorial will be erected before the end of the year even if has to be downsized to a granite bench looking out to sea.
Supporters are hoping that the sale of the Lenkiewicz portrait – a copy of the original that hangs in Portcullis House in Westminster printed on canvas and beautifully framed – will give the campaign a boost.Supporters are hoping that the sale of the Lenkiewicz portrait – a copy of the original that hangs in Portcullis House in Westminster printed on canvas and beautifully framed – will give the campaign a boost.
Tudor Evans, the leader of Plymouth city council, said using taxpayers' money for the monument had never been an option in these tough economic times. Instead campaign organisers have relied on donations.from individuals, companies and trade unions.Tudor Evans, the leader of Plymouth city council, said using taxpayers' money for the monument had never been an option in these tough economic times. Instead campaign organisers have relied on donations.from individuals, companies and trade unions.
"The money has been coming in steadily but we need to move it up a gear," he said."The money has been coming in steadily but we need to move it up a gear," he said.
Foot, who died three years ago, met Lenkiewicz at his harbour-side studio and according to Anna Navas, trustee of the Lenkiewicz foundation, the pair "got on like a house on fire."Foot, who died three years ago, met Lenkiewicz at his harbour-side studio and according to Anna Navas, trustee of the Lenkiewicz foundation, the pair "got on like a house on fire."
At the time Lenkiewicz was working on a project about addiction, mainly focusing on people hooked on drugs and alcohol but he was taken by Foot's obsession with politics – and football.At the time Lenkiewicz was working on a project about addiction, mainly focusing on people hooked on drugs and alcohol but he was taken by Foot's obsession with politics – and football.
To the surprise of those who had never seen Foot remain motionless for more than a few moments the politician agreed to have his portrait painted.To the surprise of those who had never seen Foot remain motionless for more than a few moments the politician agreed to have his portrait painted.
The painting remained unfinished when Lenkiewicz died in 2001 but Foot is known to have loved it.The painting remained unfinished when Lenkiewicz died in 2001 but Foot is known to have loved it.
Navas said: "They spent a lot of time talking. Michael didn't sit still. He was a bundle of energy as always and I think that comes through in the painting."Navas said: "They spent a lot of time talking. Michael didn't sit still. He was a bundle of energy as always and I think that comes through in the painting."
• For details of the memorial project, go to michaelfoot.org• For details of the memorial project, go to michaelfoot.org
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