MATT LE TISSIER WITH THE TED BATES PAINTING AT ST MARYS

THE PAINTING WAS AUCTIONED AT THE DINNER & RAISED £1600 FOR THE TED BATES TRUST FUND

Ted Bates

Mr Southampton

This Painting was commissioned free of charge & donated to the Ted Bates Trust fund to be auctioned to raise funds in the placement of a statue to be situated out side The Friends Provendence St Marys Stadium , See press release below

Howard's way could

boost Ted statue fund

Artist Howard Mathurine is using a special talent to help turn plans of a statue in honour of Ted Bates into reality.

The lifelong Saints fan has completed a unique black & white oil painting of the legendary former Saints player, manager & president which will be auctioned at the Ted Bates dinner at St Mary's on May 1st.

The painting was based on several photographs of Bates taken at the Dell & took around 25 hours to complete ,spread over a week. Such an item would usually cost in the region of £1000 . But for Mr Mathurine, who lives in west Totton, it was willingly done to help contribute funds curently being raised to finance a stotue for a man who gave some 66 years of service to the Saints.

"I have no idea how much it will raise,but hopefully it will give the fund a good boost," said Mr Mathurine.

"I was delighted to help when asked to do this. "It is a great cause and Ted Bates is someone's whose name will always spring to mind when you think of Saints.

The ted bates Trust dinner will be held in the Mike Channon suite at St Mary's on Sunday , May 1, at 7pm.For more info visit  www.tedbates.co.uk

Taken from the Southern evening Echo Wednesday 6th April 05