Early on a Monday evening in mid-June a thief walked into the Parish Church and stole a memorial painting from the Vicar's Vestry.

Local artist John E. Foster (who used to live at Muniment House) gave the painting called Springtime in memory of his wife, Sarah Lillian Foster, who died in June 1954. Within days of the theft Clir. Tony Clover kindly loaned his full-size framed photograph of the painting to the Church to hang in the place where the original once was.

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After news of the theft was made public two witnesses reported seeing a man ("dark-haired, willowy, who looked like Tim Henman...") climbing over the churchyard railings with the painting and going in the direction of Southfields.

Do you remember this event? It happened at about 5.30 p.m. and, since the painting was large (107 x 92 cm) it must have made a curious sight. If you can help the police in any way, or would just like to tell the Vicar, in confidence, what you saw, please do so.

A reward of £500 has been offered by the Vicar and Churchwardens for information leading to the recovery of the painting. It is not yet known what the painting was worth - but since it was a memorial they are keen to see it safely returned. Local press and radio took an interest in the theft. Sadly, Dedham's loss was not the only one: Stratford St Mary and Nayland both reported theft of furnishings from their churches. Obviously the thief has got into a habit of targeting places of worship. Please do what you can to stop him.