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Saving the 'Cheltenham Banksy' Campaign

Local business women Angela De Souza, director of the Women's Business Club and Lorah-Kelly Beard of Lorah Kelly Creative Photography, got involved with the campaign to save the Banksy artwork. This artwork has caused quite a stir in Hewlett Road and is attracting the national media with BBC Radio 1 tweeting "Happy #BanksyHoliday! @GemCairn wants to hi five the pub goers who saved this #Banksy piece in Cheltenham".

The 'Save the Banksy' fund has been set up to assist with the cost of covering the artwork and putting up a CCTV camera which will be monitored from The Fairview Pub. It all started this morning when a complete stranger walked into the pub where Angela and Lorah were meeting with the Mums Business Club. He walked up to the pub's chef, Gareth Stockford and asked if there was a Banksy fund to which Angela cheekily replied, "There is now". The stranger handed over a cash donation and said, "I think what you are doing is great!" And so the Save Banksy Fund was born. Angela and Lorah immediately jumped on the bandwagon and made a financial contribution too.

A message from local fans, "Banksy, if you are reading this, please come and touch your artwork up before the perspex goes up as sadly the vandals have done some damage."

Angela and Lorah are now challenging other businesses to stop by the pub and drop off a contribution to saving the still unconfirmed Banksy. The pub will support the local businesses by tweeting a thanks each time a business make a contribution.

Angela De Souza said, "I think having Banksy on that wall is wonderful, much better than the blank wall that was there. It is something special for Cheltenham and should be preserved and celebrated. It's all great fun and it's good to have some positive stories in the news lately."

Lorah-Kelly said, " "I love how this simple piece of artwork has brought the community together and made Cheltenham a little more interesting!"
Follow updates on Twitter using the hashtag #savethebanksy and watch this space for Banksy Burgers, Banksy posters and much more Banksy mania and paraphernalia.

Photo credit www.lorahkelly.co.uk