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Camden New Journal - Letters to the Editor
Published: 22 November 2007

Art a suitable case for treatment

• BREAKFAST porridge here was much strengthened by your paper’s news that the Middlesex Hospital’s monumental murals are stricken off the NHS list for immediate sale, (Tate Britain offer of help ‘saves’ hospital paintings, November 15)
Permit me to congratulate your newspaper and the first class reporter you devoted to the story of the attempt to get rid of these works of art.
Linked to the new £635 million 14-floor hospital in Euston Road, here we have a chairman, board, and trust staff of 600 who are taken by surprise, quote “the hospital had no idea the public cared so much”.
We wish to apportion no blame for this schism – triumphalism is out of fashion – yet we must rejoice in that the generous donor of these works, the artist Frederick Cayley Robinson and the medical staff and patients who so admired them for 85 years, are, in part vindicated.
As we all know the possession of a work of art is nine-tenths of the legal battle to protect it. As our NHS did not value, care, or foster this gift, we must feel grateful to Tate for undertaking to safeguard the four canvasses.
True, the story is to be continued. The panels honour nursing and medical staff, orphans and our war wounded. Our new Middlesex Hospital Tower, foyer-reception would have been the ideal hanging space. Let us be patient.
JACK BUDDEN
Fitzroy Square, W1

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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