Bill Bryson Selects Winning Ticket

Travel writer Bill Bryson OBE joined Anna-Louise Pickering, President of the Pollyanna Pickering Foundation to draw the winning ticket in our winter prize draw. Mr Coyne of Alfreton has won an original painting of a robin.

Bill Bryson is an American born journalist and author, who has lived most of his adult life in England and is best known for his series of travel books observing life in North America, Britain, Europe and Australia. His current book ‘The Body – A Guide for Occupants’ has again topped the Sunday Times Best Seller list, as well as being selected as their Science Book of the Year. Anna-Louise said “Pollyanna was renowned as an artist-traveller, and Bill is most famous for his travel writing, so it seemed very appropriate that he should pick our lucky winner this year!”

A high profile international figure, Bill is not only famous for his books; he is also actively involved in promoting cultural, environmental and scientific issues, including several causes close to Pollyanna’s heart. Bill has been appointed as Commissioner for English Heritage and has launched a call to improve the protection of Britain’s ancient trees and woods alongside The Woodland Trust and the Ancient Tree Forum. In 2007 he became President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England – an organisation which published an exclusive series of fund-raising cards featuring Pollyanna’s artwork. He has also travelled to Kenya with CARE International, an independent humanitarian organisation working to end world poverty through sustainable development programmes.

Between the sales of prize draw tickets, donations and a percentage of sales from the Inspired by Nature exhibition held in Pollyanna’s private gallery in November the Foundation has raised £9125 to fund the first phase of building work at Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital in Sussex to create 12 new bird of prey aviaries, 5 new water pool enclosures, mammal rehabilitation enclosures, an admissions and quarantine centre, alongside a new hospital extension.

Anna-Louise has been invited to visit the sanctuary to see first hand the impact of the Pollyanna Pickering Foundation’s work.
A full list of prize draw winners can be found below :

Drawn December 2019

First Prize : 00126 : Original Painting : P. Coyne, Alfreton

Runner Up Prize of signed limited edition print:

00253: Ms F. Stride, Matlock

Runner Up Prizes of a selection signed calendars and books

00127 : C. James, Belper
00545 : Ms P. London, Wigston Magna
00285 : Mr & Mrs Corker, Cheadle
00826 : Ms H. Absalom, Blaenavon
00595 : Ms J. Battison, Heanor
00171 : Mr D. Cranston, Oxford
00790: Ms V. Alcock, Matlock
00786 : Mrs Andrews, Sheffield
00520: Mr R. Dudgeon, Nottingham
00309 : Ms S. Wright, Doncaster