A PAINTING of a former Stratford Beadle has been handed over to his family.
An appeal was launched on social media to find relatives of Robin Smart after the portrait of him in his ceremonial uniform as Beadle – the mayor’s personal officer who attends formal and civic occasions – was recently found.
Alison King explained her grandfather, Lt Col Gerald Furtado painted the portrait of Mr Smart in 1989, and that it had remained in her family home ever since.
She decided the painting would be better in the care of his own family and posted a photo on the Startford Forum Facebook group to see if anyone could help track them down.
And one of Alison’s friends Shilpa Patel-Emilsson spotted the post and recognised Mr Smart immediately – as she used to be married to his son Ivan.
The painting has now been handed over to Shilpa, and is safely on its way to the Smart family.
