Barbara Hepworth sculpture in Dulwich Park missing?

[Sue]

Medley Wrote:

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> I'd encourage everyone who wants to reform the

> scrap metal trade to have a look at this

> e-petition - and better still to sign it!

>

> E-petition for a cashless scrap metal trade

xxxx

PeterStorm already posted the same link above :)

[indiepanda]

peterstorm1985 Wrote:

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> Too many scrap metal merchants turn a blind eye.

> They can do that because they aren't required to

> provide any audit trail. Transactions are in cash.

> If you want to help change the law, sign the

> petition

Done - looks like it's a popular one. Not surprised - every time I hear about train delays due to signal failure now my instant assumption it's because of some thieving g*t having stolen some cables etc. It's crazy that its such an easy crime for people to profit from. The impact those thieves have on so many people's days with long delays etc for the sake of a few quid makes my blood boil. And as for destroying art like this... words fail me.

[jimmyay]

Absolutely disgusting.

The Romanian metal thief scumbag gangs strike again no doubt - these people really are the lowest of the low.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2061171/Romanian-gangs-drive-increase-metal-theft-cost-plunder-hits-770m-year.html

they are stripping the country bare.

the police really need to get a grip on this.

[Sue]

jimmyay Wrote:

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> The Romanian metal thief scumbag gangs strike

> again no doubt

xxxxxx

Well if the article was in the Daily Mail, they're unlikely to be English or the paper probably wouldn't have printed it ....

[Otta]

I blame the bloody Apprentice for giving people ideas!

Seriously, this is really sad. My mum never liked the thing, but me and my sister always did. In more recent years, it is something that reminded me of childhood in Dulwich Park, seeming unchanged whilst the rest of the park was getting done up.

Absolute bastartds!

[Otta]

A couple of months ago, I was in Crystal Palace Park, and I was shocked to find that someone had driven an old van on to the footbridge, and set it alight.

(Not my photo by the way)

I thought that was the most bizarre thing I'd seen in a park, but the thought of whoever it was, carrying this sculpture out, is even weirder.

Yeah I know, they wouldn't have actually carried it out as such.

[reggie]

A possible crumb of comfort.... if it was insured then the money could be spent on a new artist's work.

[Thomas Micklewright]

Just signed the petition.

I was just watching a programme about scrap metal last night.

Are there any other large amounts of metal in dulwich we should be aware of?

Tom

[Alex K]

Likely that the foundry has the maquette; surely the sculpture COULD be replaced. Less likely is that the sculpture was insured for the cost of a re-casting, and also less likely is that the council will elect to replace the sculpture as it was, where it was.

As far as that petition: Closes on 8 August 2012. And then... how long till action is taken?

Governments can move fast enough when their goal is to do mischief (e.g., intervene in Iraq). But for a no-brainer like this! One despairs.

[Thomas Micklewright]

Perhaps if it is not replaced we should have a dulwich festival art fayre competition (may 2012) to create a new sculpture to go in its place in honour of the list statue?

Well Alex K I did read that metal theft is second on the METs list only to terrorism so perhaps they will act?

Write to your local MPs guys!

Tom

[Twirly]

Have also signed the petition.

There was a news item last week about a hospital that had to cancel ops as thieves had stolen cabling from the emergency back-up generator! Wonder what else will be stolen before the law is changed if the petition isn't going to close for another 9 months. Might be a bit late by then...

[ianr]

> Well Alex K I did read that metal theft is second on the METs list only to terrorism so perhaps they will act?

BTP's actually. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16165179

[sbegum]

We have now published an article about the sculpture on Dulwich OnView.

[Eliza.D]

I am really upset about the theft of the sculpture. It has been there all my life. When I was younger (much younger) we used to run around it and look through the it. My gran used to drive us round the park and slow when we reached the point that we could see it. I took pictures of it for my O Level art course.

I went to see the the Barbra Hepworth museum in St Ives because I was so enamoured by the sculpture. i really hope they find it before it is melted down.

It is so sad that it has been taken.I hope it turns up and can be put somewhere as tranquil as it has been for 40 odd years. Please return our sculpture. x

[BeccaL]

Also gutted by this - who could do that. Will be hard to explain to daughter as well - it's always been part of the park

[DJKillaQueen]

Sadly all the thieves see is a chunk of metal. These are the same kinds of thieves that steal metal from graveyards......a conscience isn't part of the deal.

It wouldn't have taken too long to cut through it with a large petrol driven angle grinder either. They would have needed a van to transport it and bolt cutters would have got through the locks on the gates. Sadly parks are easy targets. Not sure what can be done to protect other statues unfortunately (apart from moving them to safer locations).

[Senor Chevalier]

I'm absolutely disgusted by this. Incensensed. Last time I walked through the park there was a little girl with curly blonde hair sat in it looking delighted about life...and now some tossers are melting it down. What a loss. There is no way this got out without someone seeing something - especially given the CCTV world we live in.

[Bunny19]

I only wish that it was a police ingenious thought to remove it, haul it round round unscrupulous scrap metal dealers to see who would be prepared to take it, and then nail them.

[Smiler]

This is awful. Have got lovely photos of my then 2yo daughter peeking through the middle of it. :'(

[minder]

These people must be so desperate to earn a few quid and they don't care how they do it.

Interesting to read all the links to different reports, including the Daily Mail one.

[KidKruger]

Just been on BBC news at ten.

[Undisputedtruth]

The Dr Alfred Salter statue was stolen last month.

We live in sad times.

[trevskirevski]

We also have some great pics of our littlun in it. 1000 quid reward for 500000 sculpture isn't enough! I really hope they catch the culprits.

[ianr]

> As far as that petition: Closes on 8 August 2012. And then... how long till action is taken?

From http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/how-it-works#commons

"If your e-petition reaches more than 100,000 signatures, it will be sent to the House of Commons. The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons will check it against:

the terms and conditions for e-petitions

the rules of the House of Commons

Successful e-petitions will be communicated to the Backbench Business Committee. It will decide if your issue will be debated in the House of Commons."

The existence of an e-petition doesn't of course preclude or substitute for any other action, such as making written representations.

[Senor Chevalier]

Happier pictures: