It seems everyone has had their say on the Bronson auction that was held this year, the auction that has caused so many problems between Charlie and certain family members. Indeed, people who have no connection whatsoever have decided to get involved, publicly commenting and taking sides without any real idea of the full facts – and totally losing sight of the only thing that matters in all this – Charlie’s freedom. I had the responsibility of adding Charlie’s statement. I did this with much reluctance – with strict instructions that people do not make public comment, but simply listen to his words. As the person that people have chosen to focus their blame on, I’ve keep quiet. Perhaps people mistake this as a sign of guilt – or weakness maybe. Well, now I am going to give people the facts. My personal opinions are not important in this. I don’t have to publicly flog individuals to try and sway public opinion, or try to defend my own actions. Now people will hear the facts, from me, – Lorraine Etherington. In August 2014 I handed back all of Charlie’s belongings, art, etc to Andy and Loraine Salvage, for his family to keep safe – as I was moving and we had separated. Shortly after this, Charlie told me of a proposed art auction on a visit. He said he felt there may be repercussions with the Prison. He told me that the proceeds were going to be split 3 ways, between Andy, Loraine and himself. Therefore, we agreed the CBAF would have no involvement and we shook hands on this. When I left that visit I phoned Andy and Loraine and told them what we had agreed. I recall Loraine telling me this was fine as the auction house had a newspaper contact that was going to cover the auction. It was a Monday when the small column went into a newspaper. That night Loraine called me and asked why I hadn’t shared the auction on CBAF. I reminded her what Charlie and I had agreed. She said she would speak to him about this, so I left it at that. The following day she called me and said Charlie did want it to go on the site. I was confused by this. I told her it would not be going on, and I would contact Charlie. I also received three messages from Mark Peterson. I will simply show them (see attached photo). Mark blocked me shortly after this, so it doesn’t say his name – but I assure you these are from him. I sent Charlie these messages and asked him to confirm if he’d changed his mind. If so, I would close CBAF. For me, it was totally inappropriate to advertise the auction on the Appeal Fund. None of the proceeds were going to CBAF, and I did not want people mistakenly thinking it was. Please find attached as a photo Charlie’s letter. He was furious. He said he has not asked for it to go on the site, only suggested I might put it on, and that people had twisted what he’d said. He felt I was being bullied. I sent the following message to Mark Peterson: “Charlie Bronson Appeal Fund Hi Mark, I didnt reply to your message because it was incorrect, and I didnt want to get embroiled in arguments. On our visit the day before the trial, Mick advised me not to get involved and we shook on that. As soon as I left that visit, I called Andy and Loraine and told them it would not be going on the site. On Monday night Loraine called and asked why I hadnt put it on the site. I explained again what wed agreed. She said she would speak to Mick, so I said ok, but it wont be going on the site. I confess I was a little upset that the decision was being questioned, but I didnt wish to fall out with anyone, so I left it at that. On Tuesday, Loraine said Mick had asked for it to go on. I was confused by this, so I said I would speak to him, but repeated again our agreement, that it would not go on the site (the reasons for which, Ive explained to you, and Andy and Loraine). Andy and Loraine were totally cool with this and simply said You sort it out with Mick, no problem. However, I see youve sent me two further messages, demanding I add it or hand the page over to you. To accuse me of being awkward coz Im not involved could not be further from the truth. Ive actively tried NOT to get involved. But somehow I (CBAF) have been dragged into this. No one seemed to be able to just accept the decision (which was a joint one between your brother and I). It doesnt concern the Appeal Fund, and no one is going to use it for free publicity for things that dont benefit it. Mick has asked me to send this (attached) to yourself, Loraine and Andy. I have not sent it to them electronically as I dont want it to ruin their holiday, so Ive stuck a copy in the post. Mark, you involved yourself in this when it was none of your business. What makes you think you have the right to send me demanding messages regarding the Appeal Fund? (If you were not Micks brother, I would not choose my words so carefully but as you are, I will try to show you some respect, which is more than you have afforded me). Please be politely advised that the Appeal Fund is none of your business. It never has been and it never will be. Youve had 40 years to set up something to help your brother, you didnt - yet you feel you have the right to hijack the CBAF. You were initially offered involvement, and you didnt do a single thing to contribute. No admin posts, no fund raising, nothing. If you or other people dont agree with the decisions I make, I can understand that. But ultimately you do have to accept them. I would now like to move on from this whole sorry episode, because the only person this effects is Mick, and possibly Eira, who does NOT need this shit in her present state. Perhaps have a chat with your brother when youre home or email him, but for me, this is over. Theres certainly no ill feeling on my part and I hope the auction is a resounding success. Lorraine” I felt that if I stayed out of this, things would eventually die down. Sadly, it just escalated. Rather than address the things that made Charlie angry, people decided it is simply easier to blame me. I have brainwashed him. Well, let me outline for people the points on which Charlie is so angry. Perhaps then people can decide whether this is attributable to me, or the actions of family members. I cannot prove whose idea the auction was – and it is probably irrelevant at this stage., but Charlie maintains it was Andy Salvage’s idea. He suggested he was struggling, so Charlie agreed to an art auction, to help out. * Charlie’s understanding that this was to be an Art auction. He had no idea what was being sold because he was not told; either before, during or immediately after the auction. No one contacted him. He wasn’t told what sold, what didn’t sell, or how much was raised. His biggest gripe to this day is that not one single person has written to say thank you for the money they’d got from it. I had a visit after the auction and he expressed anger that he didn’t know what had sold, and hadn’t even seen a catalogue… a catalogue he thought he had paid to print. He told me the price and asked whether this seemed right to me. When I left the visit I called the auctioneer and asked him to confirm the price to print the catalogue, and requested he send me a brochure, so I could forward this to Charlie. By strange coincidence, the next day Charlie received a catalogue from Loraine Salvage, along with a letter telling me to mind my own business. I can appreciate the sentiment but I felt Charlie had a right to see the items that had sold. I believe the cost of printing the catalogue was taken from the overall proceeds of the auction. * Charlie was extremely upset to see the items that had sold. As his statement testifies, personal items to his mother, clothing, and confidential psychiatric reports were sold as well as art. The items signed to his mother were the biggest upset to him. They may not have had sentimental value to Eira, but they did to Charlie. And they were sold without his knowledge. As a consequence of the events that have unfolded, and how people have behaved, Charlie feels he has been used by his own family. Due to the way money has been divided up, he also feels he has been ripped off. I have personally been blamed for the events that have unfolded from this auction. Now people can read the facts, and decide for themselves. Some of Charlie’s belongings were returned to me on 1st December, along with some 520 art calendars. These calendars had been selling for approximately 3 weeks before I was sent any and I personally wanted nothing to do with them, but my instructions were to try and get back some dosh for Charlie. My understanding regarding these calendars is that 1,000 were printed and the proceeds were to be split 50/50 between Charlie and Andy Salvage. For me, I felt that if this were the case, I should not have received over 500. I should have been sent half of what was left. Clearly whatever had been sold so far – well, the money wasn’t going to Charlie. This is not an accusation, simply my understanding. So my work was cut out, to try and sell them when most supporters had already purchased one, believing the money was going to Charlie. I set the price at what I felt the calendar was worth. I was then told that Eira (Charlie’s mother) had paid to print these calendars. Charlie doubted this, but I personally sent a cheque for £1,300 - paid for from the Appeal Fund. Charlie then received 2 emails and one letter from Andy, Loraine and Mark. As well as expressing their anger that this made them look like they were ripping people off, I was blamed for the auction not being a success, accused of poisoning his mind and of being such an insanely jealous woman that I engineered all this to cut him off from his family. I can’t help but think that if people had accepted and respected my decision not to put it on the site, none of this would ever have happened. What subsequently happened, the way people behaved.. well, you can come to your own conclusions. For some this was about money, for me this was about the integrity of the Appeal Fund. Sadly, it seems people have been talking, and telling their own versions of the truth, because Charlie received a lot of letters from people about what had gone on. Well, they didn’t get it from me or the Appeal Fund. This made Charlie even angrier. He decided he wanted people to know the truth as he saw it. So his audio statement, with much reluctance, went up. Since then, people have completely lost focus of what is important in all this. They have decided to take sides, PUBLICLY made comments (not on CBAF because I did not allow it), but about the Appeal Fund, and me personally. Rather than focus on Charlie’s freedom fight, several people have decided to comment on matters they know nothing about. If the auction was not a success due to the fact that CBAF didn’t advertise it, that’s unfortunate. Perhaps the people involved are not happy with the money they got from it. Should I feel guilty I did not assist them to earn more? I don’t. I removed Charlie’s statement just before the New Year, for fear it would cause adverse publicity for him. Obviously Charlie is incredibly unhappy about this. I had hoped we could move into 2015 – a new year, a fresh start. I learn that Mark Peterson has left his statement up, along with allowing comments. So I am going to redress the balance and do the same. The statement has been reinstated, and people are free to listen to it, and comment on it – as well as this. The Appeal Fund was established by me single-handedly, to fight for Charlie’s freedom. There is no team, no external help. It’s just me. I set CBAF up initially to raise money for Charlie’s legal costs. But mostly, it was to raise awareness. My focus always has, and always will be about the injustice of his continued imprisonment. CBAF is not motivated by money, but righting wrongs. I feel that today I have had to do this regarding personal (and what should have been) private matters. If anyone has a personal opinion of me, or wishes to interfere in matters that do not concern them, don’t bother. What people think of me is irrelevant. I know that what I do is in the best interests of Charlie and for the integrity of the Appeal Fund. The fence sitters and two-face backstabbers and haters (you know who you are) can finally make an informed decision – given the FACTS. 2015 – it’s time to free Charlie Bronson. Charlies audio statement: https://youtube/watch?v=1uwQtn4RhZA&feature=youtu.be
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 15:09:12 +0000
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