Crooks steal treasured family heirloom

Burglars took five pictures from the home of retired University of Sussex reader Stephen Medcalf, 70, including a painting of his great great grandfather, John Richard Ellis.

The painting dates back to the 1830s and is of great sentimental value to Mr Medcalf, who had the artwork restored in the 1970s.

He said: 'It came into my family in the 1930s but my eldest brother put a dart through the mouth of the painting, so for quite a few years it was languishing at the bottom of a cupboard until I had it restored in the 70s.'

Mr Medcalf believes the painting, which still has slight damage to the mouth, is worth only about 100 but on a personal level is worth considerably more.

He said Ellis had been an innkeeper at the Old Punch House Inn in Ware, Herts.

After visiting the pub Mr Medcalf found out Ellis's great great grandfather was a distinguished figure in Ware and in 1832 a banquet was held to celebrate the passing of the Reform Bill, when Ellis presided over one of the tables.

The painting was stolen from Mr Medcalf's house on the evening of March 17.

A number of other works of art were taken, including a watercolour by William Bennett and a print of Merton College, Oxford, by David Loggan.

If readers any information about these paintings contact the police on 0845 6070999, or Mr Medcalf on 0780 7465458.