Terry Waite goes missing (again)
Former Beirut hostage Terry Waite today appealed for help to recover a treasured portrait of himself painted by three brothers from Bridgnorth.
The painting is the work of artists, the Bingham Brothers, and it has been missing since Mr Waite inadvertently left it on a train.
It was reported lost exactly six weeks ago but no trace of it has been found since. Mr Waite told the Shropshire Star today that he had only just been given the painting and was taking it home, wrapped in bubble-style wrapping.
He said: "For me to go missing once was unfortunate. For my portrait to now go missing is ridiculous. I really do hope readers can help me relocate the painting. I am very fond of it.
"My mind was in such a tizz on the train, wondering if my car had been slapped with a parking ticket while I was away, I just completely forgot the painting and left it on the train.
"I love Shropshire and have had some close associations with your newspaper and if anyone can help I am sure it will be your readers."
The portrait was painted in oils on canvas as part of the Bingham Brothers' People of Our Time series which also includes the likes of Charlton Heston, Paul Weller, Honeysuckle Weeks, Paul McCartney's brother Mike and Noddy Holder. Brothers David, Ian and Tim Bingham worked collaboratively on all the works.
Two portraits of each celebrity were done, one for eventual public exhibition and a study given to each of the sitters as a keepsake. Mr Waite came to world prominence in 1987 when, as the Archbishop of Canterbury's special envoy, he was captured and held hostage for almost five years.
He now heads several charities and is a successful author and speaker and it was while returning home from a talk at Aston University in Birmingham that he mislaid the portrait.
He had it with him when he boarded the 7.43pm Greater Anglia train from Cambridge on September 5 but realised he had left it behind after he got off at Bury St Edmunds at 8.22pm.
Anyone with any information as to the picture's wherabouts is asked to contact either Terry Waite's office on 01284 789412 or by e-mail to sarah.dp@btinternet.com or David Bingham on 01746 763007 or 07920 886893.
