Published: Wednesday, 20th March 2024
The Mayor accepted the return of a Walter Dexter painting of the Custom House to King's Lynn on Monday 18 March 2024.
The painting had been gifted to the city of Vancouver in 1936 and was displayed outside the Mayor's Office there.
It was spotted by Ray Spaxman when he successfully applied for the Director of Planning role for the city of Vancouver and, as a King's Lynn resident who had emigrated to Canada, he recognised it immediately. When Ray resigned in 1989 he was delighted that the city council gave him the original painting as a leaving present.
Ray has generously decided that it is time to return the painting of the Custom House to his home town of King's Lynn. It will sit well with the collection of other Dexter paintings on display at the Town Hall.
King Edward VII School, the Old Lennensians’ Association and most notably Ray Spaxman have played a key part in the return of this very special picture.