Pensioner Wendy Scott says she is bamboozled after a painting featuring her house in Braithwaite was left at the back door by an unknown person.
The riddle of the mystery watercolour scene has left Wendy, of Peter House, scratching her head over who donated it to her – and why.
“It is a total mystery. I thought the village shop might be the answer and I have asked one or two local suspects ‘did you leave a picture’ and they didn’t. I am completely bamboozled,” said Wendy, who received the OBE for services to education in 2015.
The octogenarian, who still works as an education consultant, lives next door to Ivy House Hotel. The painting shows a view to the west from the hotel, taking in part of Wendy’s house and a property on the other side of the road. It has the name of the artist – Tom McGregor – on the back with a label giving his address and phone number in York. The phone number is no longer in use.
The mystery began when Wendy came home and found a note posted by a delivery firm saying a parcel had been left for her. The parcel was found in a safe place at the side of the house but when looking for it in a dry place behind her back door where deliveries are usually left, she was amazed to discover the painting.
“I know from the plants that are shown in the front garden that the picture must have been painted at least 20 years ago, The only other clue is that a sticker has been put over the price of the painting, which suggests that it has been bought locally.
“I would dearly like to be able to thank the thoughtful and generous person who left the painting at my house. I put a notice in the local shop window a week ago but so far there has been no response.
“I’m wondering whether any Keswick Reminder readers might be able to help me to solve a mystery. My guess is that it is someone local – or it could have been someone from the hotel. I really don’t know.”
