RED CROSS FUND

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1939, Page 12

RED CROSS FUND

JEWELS AND COINS

'PORTRAIT PAINTER'S OFFER

{By Air Mail, rrom -The Post's" London Representative.)

LONDON, October 10.

Jewels and valuable coins are among the gifts to the Lord Mayor's Red Cross and St. John Fund for the Sick and the Wounded. The figure of £250,000 has already been passed, and to this has been added Lord Nuffield's £ 100,000, which ,he said would be forthcoming when the quarter million was reached. The Queen was particularly interested „ in the gifts of j ewels when she j visited the Mansion House yesterday to see the preparations for the first National Flag Day for the fund. Her Majesty was shown a large jewel case presented to the Lord Mayor by an old lady who wished to remain unknown. It contained a pearl necklace, diamond and other bracelets, rings, pendants, and watches. The Queen was told that the lady said: "I have brought my jewels, and wajnt to give them to the Lord Mayor's Fund, but I don't want my name in the papers." ' The Queen said it was splendid that women should give their jewels. She had heard of a diamond necklace which had been given and asked to see.it. The Lord Mayor sent for the necklace, which the Queen said was "wonderful and beautiful." She asked how such articles were to be realised, and the Lord Mayor said there would probably be a Red Cross sale at Christie's. . Gold coins comprise a large percentage of the miscellaneous gifts to the fund, and many of them are of extreme historic value. There is a 20----franc Napoleon piece and German coins as ancient as 1660. A necklace insured for as much as £20,000 brought Lord Nuffield's £ 100,000 -into the fund. The most original and acceptable gift has been received from Mr. A. jEderton Cooper, the well-known portrait painter, an offer which should arouse the jealousy and vanity of the London War Emergency Council, which it directly affects. He has presented a canvas to this distinguished body of men, intimating that for 250 guineas he will paint one of them and devote the fee to the fund. The subject of the portrait need not necessarily confine itself to the limited members of the council. The members may volunteer a friend or relaj tive. This offer is an example of the I spirit and sacrifice which lies behind every gift the fund receives.