REDGRAVE APPEAL FINAL PRESS RELEASE

The Appeal Committee held its final meeting in the Clubhouse of Marlow Rowing Club and agreed that the surplus funds - amounting to a sum in excess of £3,000 (Three Thousand Pounds) - will be given to Marlow Rowing Club to assist in the training and development of promising young rowers.
During August, Neale Andrew, the sculptor of the Sir Steve Redgrave statue, travelled from Nottingham to Marlow to insert a second bronze plaque in the Caithness Stone plinth. The plaque has the following inscription :-

Unveiled by
Queen Elizabeth II
on 10^th May 2002
during the year of
Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee

The Committee also agreed that an historical record of the project should be created and eventually exhibited in Court Garden House. It was proposed that this should comprise a Book of Donors containing the names of all contributors, sponsors and supporters, together with an archival chronicle of significant events and a photographic record of highlights of the project.

FILM STAR SENDS DONATION TO TRIBUTE APPEAL

Ricky Tomlinson ("Jim Royle"), star of the BBC's award winning sitcom "The Royle Family" has written to Hugh McNearnie, Chairman of the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal and made a generous donation to the Appeal. In his letter, Ricky Tomlinson wishes the Redgrave Tribute Appeal every success, and writes, "If anyone deserves a tribute, it's Steve".
Ricky Tomlinson hosted a programme of tributes to Sir Steven on BBC Television soon after his triumphant return from the 2000 Sydney Olympics and spoke of his admiration for Steve's unprecedented achievement of winning Gold Medals at five successive Olympic Games.

Issued by the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal , 5 Gossmore Close, Marlow-on-Thames, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1QG.

HIGH WYCOMBE FOUNDRY CHOSEN TO CAST STATUE

Neale Andrew, the Nottingham-based sculptor selected to undertake the commission for a statue of Sir Steven Redgrave in Higginson Park, Marlow has chosen Burleighfield Arts Limited of Loudwater to produce the bronze casting.
Burleighfield Arts is one of the most established bronze foundries in Western Europe and has carried out work for some of the world's greatest sculptors, including Epstein, Moore, Frink, Hepworth and Armitage.
Paul Dimishky, Managing Director of Burleighfield Arts said, 'As a locally based arts foundry and sculpture studio with an international reputation, Burleighfield Arts is delighted to be associated in such a tangible way with the unique achievements of Sir Steven Redgrave, a very remarkable Englishman.'
Hugh McNearnie, Chairman of the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal, said, 'This is very good news. It is most appropriate that Neale has chosen a local foundry whose reputation for excellence extends well beyond the boundaries of Buckinghamshire. I hope it may be possible for Marlow schools to arrange with Burleighfield Arts to visit the foundry.'

Issued on behalf of the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal, 5 Gossmore Close, Marlow-on-Thames, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1QG.

REDGRAVE STATUE DESIGN GOES ON
PUBLIC DISPLAY IN MARLOW

Residents of Marlow and Marlow Bottom, along with visitors to the town, will be able to see for themselves the agreed design for the statue of Sir Steven Redgrave when it goes on public display at the Marlow Tourist Information Centre in the High Street from next Monday.
The model of the statue will form the showpiece of a display about the Marlow Redgrave Appeal at the Centre. The design was created by the celebrated sculptor Neale Andrew, who has produced works of many famous personalities including Gary Lineker, Mike Tyson, Bobby Moore, Harold Larwood and Rt.Hon. John Major. Neale's intention was to capture Sir Steven in a pose similar to that adopted by the early Olympians, thus drawing the parallel between Sir Steven's achievements and the Olympic ideal.
Neale Andrew's design was chosen from a total of six, submitted and assessed under the auspices of the Royal Society of British Sculptors. It was the unanimous choice of the Appeal's  selection committee, which consisted of a balanced cross section of Marlow opinion – Hugh McNearnie, Chairman of the Appeal; Maurice Oram, Town Mayor; Geoffrey Redgrave (Sir Steven's father); and David Messum, a well known fine art dealer and Marlow resident.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Appeal will be able to do so at the Information Centre.
Said the Marlow Redgrave Appeal chairman, Hugh McNearnie: "We are delighted to be able to let people see this miniature of the statue at first hand and we would like to thank the Marlow Information Centre for giving us this opportunity. We have made a great start in raising the money necessary for the statue, which will be one and a quarter life size," he continued, "but we still have some way to go to reach our target of £100,000."
As announced last week, the statue has been granted planning permission by Wycombe District Council to stand at a designated location in Higginson Park. Sir Steven will undertake the first of a number of life sittings for sculptor Neale Andrew in the next few weeks.

Issued on behalf of the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal, 5 Gossmore Close, Marlow-on-Thames, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1QG.

Press enquiries: Ian Berrido, Berrido & Company, 01628 890750 (Office); 07770 685098 (Mobile)

MARLOW'S REDGRAVE STATUE
GAINS PLANNING PERMISSION

Just over a week after the Marlow Redgrave Appeal was launched by its patron Sir Nigel Mobbs, the Appeal has taken a major step forward with the announcement this week that its plan to erect the statue to Sir Steven Redgrave in Higginson Park, Marlow, has been granted the required planning permission by Wycombe District Council.
The agreed site of the statue will be between Court Garden House and the river, looking down the Marlow reach where Sir Steven learnt to row, towards Henley, the scene of some of his major rowing triumphs.
"We are naturally very pleased with this decision," said Hugh McNearnie, chairman of the Marlow Redgrave Appeal. "This is another step towards the town gaining a permanent tribute to Sir Steven to mark his unique achievements in a fitting and appropriate way."
Since the official launch of this grassroots initiative by the people of Marlow and Marlow Bottom, the fund has already reached the halfway point towards its target £100,000. In addition, the chosen sculptor Neale Andrew has been in contact with Sir Steven to arrange some time in Sir Steven's busy schedule for the first of what will be four sittings.

Issued on behalf of the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal, 5 Gossmore Close, Marlow-on-Thames, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1QG.

Press enquiries: Ian Berrido , Berrido & Company, 01628 890750 (Office); 07770 685098 (Mobile)

SCULPTOR FOR STATUE OF SIR STEVEN REDGRAVE COMMISSIONED

The preferred design for the statue of Sir Steven Redgrave was conceived by the Nottinghamshire-based sculptor Neale Andrew A.R.B.S. Neale Andrew is highly experienced and has been commissioned to create portraits of many leading sportsmen and figures from public life. These have included Sir Alec Bedser, Harold 'Dickie' Bird, Gary Lineker, Sir Richard Hadlee, Bobby Moore, Jimmy Young, the Rt.Hon. John Major and Brian Johnston.
The finished statue of Sir Steven will be seen holding an oar in his right hand, with his left hand raised in victorious salute. Around his neck hang a representation of his five Olympic gold medals, which fall loosely in the configuration of the five Olympic rings. The pose, with the weight resting on the right leg and the left arm raised, was used by classical Greek sculptors in their depiction of athletes and is a direct link with the athletes of the first Olympic Games.
Before awarding the commission to Neale Andrew, the Selection Committee of the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal, saw designs from six sculptors in total. These were put forward by the Royal British Society of Sculptors and invited to tender for the commission. Their designs were presented to the Selection Committee, which included Geoffrey Redgrave, Sir Steven's father, and fine art dealer David Messum, over a two day period at the end of May. After the presentations, a short list of two was drawn up, leading to Neale Andrew's design being the Committee's final and unanimous choice as the preferred design.
"It may sound something of a cliché to say that the choice was a hard one, " said the Appeal Committee chairman, Hugh McNearnie, "but the standard really was so high. Each of the artists had captured Sir Steven so well, a fact remarked on by his father. However, when it came to the final choice, there was not a dissenting voice on the Committee – Neale's was the preferred design to capture Sir Steven for immortality."
The project to produce a statue of Sir Steven, which has a budget of £100,000 to be raised through sponsorship and public subscription, is expected to take nine to twelve months. The anticipated unveiling of the finished statue, which will stand close to Marlow Reach, where Sir Steven learned to row, in his home town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, is planned for spring/early Summer next year.
Speaking about his representation of Sir Steven, Neale said "I wanted to create a link between Sir Steven and the athletes of the early Olympics. The pose I've chosen not only animates the figure but my intention is to immediately register an Olympian theme with anyone coming to the statue and who might not have any prior knowledge of Sir Steven or his achievements."

Issued on behalf of the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal, 5 Gossmore Close, Marlow-on-Thames, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1QG.

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SIR NIGEL MOBBS LAUNCHES PUBLIC APPEAL FOR PERMANENT TRIBUTE TO SIR STEVEN REDGRAVE

Sir Nigel Mobbs, Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire today launched a public appeal to raise £100,000 for a permanent tribute to Sir Steven Redgrave. The tribute will take the form of a statue of Sir Steven which will stand in his home town of Marlow, in Buckinghamshire. Six leading British sculptors were invited through the auspices of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, to submit designs for the commission to produce the finished statue. In launching the Appeal Sir Nigel revealed the chosen design, by Neale Andrew, in public for the first time.

The Appeal, called the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal, has Sir Nigel as its patron and will seek to raise necessary the funding through sponsorship and public subscription. Founded by Hugh McNearnie, the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal is a grassroots initiative by a number of residents of Marlow and neighbouring Marlow Bottom who feel strongly that the town should have a permanent reminder of Sir Steven's unique achievements. The quintuple Olympic Gold medallist, has lived in Marlow Bottom all his life, attended Great Marlow School and learnt to row on the river at Marlow.

In launching the Appeal Sir Nigel said:
"Marlow, Buckinghamshire and Britain are very proud of Steve Redgrave's unique achievement in winning five gold medals in five different Olympic Games. It is very fitting that Steve Redgrave should be honoured in his home town by the erection of a statue."

The winning design has been produced by Neale Andrew who has carried out commissions to produce portraits of many leading sports personalities including Gary Lineker, West Indian fast bowler Malcolm Marshall, Sir Alec Bedser, Nick Faldo, Bobby Moore and Mike Tyson. The Selection Committee for the winning design included Geoffrey Redgrave, Sir Steven's father. Neale Andrew will begin work on the statue very shortly and it is hoped to have it completed by Spring 2002.

Issued on behalf of the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal, 5 Gossmore Close, Marlow-on-Thames, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1QG.

Press enquiries: Ian Berrido , Berrido & Company, 01628 890750 (Office); 07770 685098 (Mobile)

APPEAL COMMITTEE REFLECTS LINKS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY

The membership Marlow Redgrave Appeal Committee reflects the grassroots nature of this local initiative.

The Committee consists of the following:

Hugh McNearnie – chairman and originator of the Appeal

A Marlow resident for 26 years, Hugh started his working life in the merchant navy before he qualified as a chartered surveyor and joined W.H.Smith. Prior to his retirement, Hugh was a main board director of the company.

Maurice Oram – Marlow Town Mayor

Maurice has lived in Marlow all his life, attending the local grammar school as a boy. A town and county councillor, Maurice is the current Mayor of Marlow, a post his has held four times previously.

Mike Williams - Marlow Bottom Residents' Association

Mike has lived in Marlow Bottom for almost 30 years, and is a member of the Marlow Bottom  Residents Association Committee, Mike is very much involved with the community through his work for various local charities. Mike also writes a column about Marlow Bottom for the local paper, the Marlow Free Press.

Peter Hunt - Chairman, Marlow Rowing Club

The Chairman of Marlow Rowing Club, where Sir Steven Redgrave is an honorary life member, Peter has a long association with both the sport of rowing and the town of Marlow.

Alan Coster - Honorary Treasurer, Marlow & District Chamber of Trade and Commerce

Alan had been a member of the Marlow retail community for 53 years until he retired from the commercial life of the town earlier this year. A member of the Marlow Rotary Club, he is an ex-president of the Chamber of Trade. Alan is still actively involved with the town and is on the committee of the new Marlow Town Regatta and Festival.

The Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal has as its patron Sir Nigel Mobbs, Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire and the vice presidents are Lady Redgrave, Sir Keith Stuart and Sir Raymond Whitney.

Apart from Lady Redgrave's involvement in the Appeal, the links with the Redgrave family also include Geoffrey Redgrave, Sir Steven's father, who is on the selection committee for commissioning the chosen sculptor.

Issued on behalf of the Marlow Redgrave Tribute Appeal, 5 Gossmore Close, Marlow-on-Thames, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1QG.

Press enquiries: Ian Berrido, Berrido & Company, 01628 890750 (Office); 07770 685098 (Mobile)

THE MARLOW REDGRAVE TRIBUTE APPEAL: A GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE BY LOCAL PEOPLE.

The Redgrave Tribute Appeal, founded by local Marlow resident Hugh McNearnie, is a grassroots initiative by the people of Marlow and Marlow Bottom who want to honour their most famous son by creating a permanent tribute to the greatest Olympian of all time.

To achieve this, a committee of local people has been formed to commission a statue to Sir Steven Redgrave as a permanent  tribute to the great oarsman. The tribute will act as a reminder of Sir Steven's achievements not only to all those who live and work in the town, but also to the many thousands of visitors who come to Marlow each year, while serving as an inspiration to future generations. It will also record an important part of the town's heritage and its important connections with the sport of rowing.

The patron of the Appeal Committee is Sir Nigel Mobbs, Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire and chairman of Slough Estates. Vice patrons are Lady Redgrave, Sir Keith Stuart and Sir Raymond Whitney.

A design competition has been organised  with the Royal Society of British Sculptors, acting as consultants to the Appeal committee. Six leading sculptors accepted  invitations to submit designs for the statue, and the preferred design was chosen at the end of last month by a selection committee which included Geoffrey Redgrave, Sir Steven's father, and the fine art dealer David Messum, who in addition to his galleries in London, has a studio in Marlow.

The finished statue will be located in Higginson Park, Marlow overlooking the stretch of river where Sir Steven learnt to row.

Press enquiries: Ian Berrido, Berrido & Company, 01628 890750 (Office); 07770 685098 (Mobile)

PRESS INFORMATION - 1 MAY 2001

The Redgrave Permanent Tribute Appeal has moved forward in several directions in recent weeks. These have included inviting 6 leading sculptors to enter a competition for the commission to produce the final statue; Sir Steven himself has taken part in a special photography session to provide the competition entrants with comprehensive reference material to enable them to produce designs for the statue. The Appeal web site has gone live and has launched a home page, and the Appeal Committee have submitted a planning application to erect the approved statue in a preferred position in Higginson Park, Marlow.

Statue Competition

Six leading sculptors are currently working on the designs for the permanent statue of Sir Steven. They will be submitted to the Selection Committee at the end of May, with a winning design being announced in due course. The Royal Society of British Sculptors will manage the commission on behalf of the Appeal Committee. The Selection Committee includes Sir Steven's father, Geoffrey Redgrave.

Sir Steven gives up time on Easter Monday

As the sculptors competing for the commission did not have sufficient photographic reference material, the Appeal Committee asked Sir Steven if he would sit for some 'anatomical' photographs to give them the right material to work from. Sir Steven was delighted to help and attended the photographic session at a local studio on Easter Monday, the only day free in his busy schedule.

Tribute Appeal Website goes live

As a result of work carried out by a local computer and web design company, PennSoft Services, the Appeal web site has 'gone live'. Currently the site has its home page up, but it will be enlarged with more information as the Appeal moves forward in the coming months. The web address is www.redgraveappeal.org.uk.

Appeal Committee submits Planning Application for Statue

The Appeal Committee has now submitted a planning application to Wycombe District Council for permission to erect the completed statue of Sir Steven at the Committee's preferred site in front of Court Garden House, looking down the Marlow reach of the Thames towards Henley.
"We feel that this is the most appropriate position for the statue", said the Appeal's Chairman, Hugh McNearnie. "It will face down the stretch of water on which Sir Steven rowed for so many years and which he knows so well, looking in the direction of Henley, the scene of so many of Sir Steven's rowing triumphs.".

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