Final chance to win a rare Bob Olley mining painting

It's the last chance this week for people to be in with a chance of winning a rare framed painting by artist Bob Olley from his mining series.
The Hewer by Bob OlleyThe Hewer by Bob Olley
The Hewer by Bob Olley

A former Whitburn colliery miner, Bob Olley donated the painting The Hewer 001, which has never been displayed before, to the Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Development Trust to raise funds for South Shields Museum & Art Gallery via a raffle.

Tickets cost £2.50 each and are available to purchase from the museum shop or online via the museum’s web page www.southshieldsmuseum.org.uk - with ticket sales closing on Saturday at 5pm.

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Bob Olley himself will conduct the prize draw to choose a winner at 1pm on Monday September 10 and the museum will broadcast the prize draw live on their Facebook page.

Bob said: “Every Saturday morning as a child I attended the ABC minor’s club matinee at the Savoy cinema in Ocean Road, followed by a visit to the museum where I spent many happy hours, mesmerised by the collection of artefacts from around the world and the pride of stuffed lions staring from their glass case.

“In 1972 the gallery was the venue for my first exhibition. I have happy memories of my visits to a great South Tyneside asset.“

Geoff Woodward, manager of South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for one lucky person to win an original artwork that captures an industry so important in the heritage of the South Tyneside area. This picture is also deeply resonant because Bob Olley is not only an accomplished artist, he was actually there in person working at the coalface.

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“We are extremely grateful to Bob for his generous donation to support South Shields Museum & Art Gallery.”

Over 20 other paintings by Bob Olley currently feature on loan in the museum’s King Coal: the life & legacy of South Tyneside’s coal mining communities exhibition, alongside other objects.

King Coal: the life & legacy of South Tyneside’s coal mining communities runs until September 29.