Stowe head and his pupils mobilise to save Cork Street

 
diary Cork Street W1, famous for its art galleries but now in danger as property development beckons . Picture by GLENN COPUS
GLENN COPUS
14 November 2012

Stowe headmaster Dr Anthony Wallersteiner brought a busload of pupils from his Buckinghamshire school, including his daughter Imogen, to take part in a demonstration in Cork Street last night.

The street famed for its art galleries, which launched the careers of Barbara Hepworth, Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon, is threatened with demolition, to be developed as luxury apartments.

They joined protesters trying to stop Standard Life Investments from finalising a £90 million deal with Native Land, which would put seven galleries out of business. More than 11,000 people have signed the Save Cork Street petition.

“Cork Street is a hugely important part of our heritage and we mustn’t let it go,” Wallersteiner, who has a PhD in modern art, explained to his pupils in the Alpha Gallery. “It was very significant to me as a student.”

Tony Blair and Derry Irvine used to meet in the Waddington gallery in the Seventies to add to their collections. At the Browse & Darby Gallery they bought works by Euan Uglow, and Cherie posed for him in the nude.

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