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12.06.2006

Cory Environmental - Art auction swells heart charity funds

The British Heart Foundation is more than £1,200 richer after a Cory Environmental-sponsored art exhibition preview came up trumps for the charity.

All the art on show at HMS Belfast on the preview evening was the work of former Cory waterman and lighterman Mike Estall and the exhibition marked the 50th anniversary of his apprenticeship on the river.

During the evening, Cory Environmental’s chief executive officer, Malcolm Ward, auctioned one of Mike’s original oil paintings which raised £800 thanks to the generosity of John Potter, skipper of the ‘Princess Pocahontas’. The painting, entitled, Sailing Barge May entering St Katherine’s Dock brought back memories for Mr Potter who was once a member of the crew of the famous sailing barge. Another £400 was raised for the charity from the sale of Mike’s paintings and prints on the evening.

Malcolm Ward said: “Having been using the Thames for more than 100 years, Cory Environmental was pleased to have sponsored this exhibition by a very talented former lighterman. Mike’s paintings illustrate vividly how the river has changed over the last 50 years with a sharp decline in cargo trade. Today there are only around 100 lighterman working on the river for Cory and our river operation will be threatened if the Government refuses to allow us to construct a river served energy from waste plant in Belvedere. It would be a tragedy if this vital part of the Thames heritage, which keeps more than 100,000 vehicle movements off London’s congested roads each year, was jeopardised.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

Cory Environmental, one of the UK's leading recycling and waste management companies, operates across the country and employs over 1,000 people. It provides a wide range of integrated services from street cleansing and municipal waste collection, to recycling, transfer and disposal. Cory's services have been recognised with a number of awards for sustainable transport, the management of facilities and city cleanliness.

For further information please contact: Lynne Cure: 020 7417 5200 or Charlie Vavasour: 01227 454023