NEWS

FRAMPTON'S MILL RECEIVES ARTISTIC GIFT

When chartered accountant and part time artist Robin Frazer-Clark heard 20 years ago that a Waitrose store was to be built in Ringwood on the site of the old cattle market, he was most concerned and assumed that the old Frampton Mill granary store would also be pulled down to make way for the new supermarket.

His reaction was to save the building for posterity and sat down with his easel and watercolours to paint the old Frampton Mill building complete with the original brick wall in front.

Of course Frampton Mill was not pulled down and is now a delightful Café/Restaurant and the focal point of the Furlong Shopping Centre. Robin and his wife Frida moved away from Avon Castle, Ringwood 9 years ago to live in Westbourne, and sadly Robin died ten months ago aged 89.

His widow Frida (82) is to move to her native home which is France to live with her son in Lyon and decided to part with some of her husband's treasured paintings.

She contacted the Ringwood Chamber of Trade and Commerce through their web site and asked where her husband's paintings would be most appreciated and seen by the most people. The Chamber recommended Frampton's Mill and Steve and Carol Allen, the owners of the Mill, jumped at the chance to have these beautiful and meticulously executed paintings.

Said Steve Allen "They are really delightful and we are very honoured to be able to display them. They are incredibly detailed. I do not think I have ever seen so much work on each individual brick in any other painting."

Furlong Centre Art expert John Watson who owns the newly opened Gallery 2 said "The paintings are a charming pair of water colours with body colour of Frampton's Mill. They have been handled with great delicacy."

Steve and Carol Allen of Frampton's Mill hosted a lunch party for Frida Frazer-Clarke her friends and members of the Chamber of Trade, Estate Agent Jon Grant, Website expert Wayne Robbins and local publicist Belinda Charlton to celebrate the arrival the new works of art, which are being displayed in the ground floor restaurant.

Said Frida "I am so glad they are going to be appreciated. That is something my husband would have wanted and it has given me great pleasure to donate them to the town where we were both so happy."

From Belinda Charlton 01425 473813 - www.bcamarketing.co.uk