Admiral Wallcott is coming home.

I could hardly contain myself as for the last week I have known that protracted negotiations with Bournemouth Council at last achieved the objective of getting this painting of one of our benefactors back to the Borough after fifty or so years of it languishing in the Russell Coates museum.I had to keep the whole thing a secret as final wording was agreed but last night I announced to the full Council the good news and enjoyed the resulting cheers from members and officers. My thanks go to cllr.Peter Charron leader of Bournemouth who saw the sense of my argument and as I understand it BBC will be inviting a few of us over to a hand over ceremony. What we will do is in due course, invite Peter and his team to Christchurch when we hang the painting in the Mayors Parlour. Cllr Nick Geary was the driving force behind the scheme to get the painting back home and he made this an objective for his Mayoralty year so well done to him and to all the Christchurch team who gave him support. Next project the Elgin Marbles!!!!