Avington Park Sundial Stolen
A nearly three-century old brass sundial was stolen in the early overnight hours of August 9, 2011 from the grounds of Avington Park in Itchen Abbas, near Winchester (England). Local officials say the dial is large enough it would have required several people to move it. The dial is valued at over £100,000 and is very distinctive.
Anyone with information regarding its whereabouts is strongly encouraged to contact police: you may contact DC Roman at Winchester police station on 101, via the website at www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/contact/message_officer.htm or call the Crime stoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111
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Help Find a Stolen Dial
If you look in the NASS Sundial Registry at Dial #617 from Ann Arbor Michigan you will see a lovely equatorial sundial on the grounds of the University of Michigan North Campus near the College of Engineering buildings. The dial exists only as a photo and a memory. Last April between the 13th and 15th it was stolen according to the Detroit Free Press.
The bronze equatorial dial has a circular nodus on the polar gnomon arrow to mark the seasons on the broad equatorial band.
Markings are in French (Solstice D’Hiver, Solstice D’Ete, Equinoxe de Printemps), Roman hours enumerate only the hours of VI, XII, VI and the dial face has etched zodiac figures running across a diagonal ecliptic in accordance with the seasons. Unfortunately the base was built more for artistic appeal than vandal protection. The dial was apparently ripped off its pedestal by removing three attaching bolts.
The dial was set in the Wave Field courtyard outside the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building. It was a gift to the University in 1993 by Albina du Boisrouvray in memory of her son Francois-Xavier who died in 1986 at age 24 on a helicopter rescue mission in Mali according to the Free Press. The dial was built by Gubelin Swiss. According to the University, the sundial has more artistic and sentimental value than monetary, but they would like it returned. They are offering a $200 reward for information leading to the recovery of this 3-foot, 50-pound bronze dial. Anonymous tips should be reported to the university's tip line at 800-863-1355 or with university police at 734-763-1131.
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Board Elects to Repair Sun City Sundial
The Recreation Center Sun City (RCSC) Board of Directors has decided to repair the sundial monument at the corner of 103rd Avenue and Boswell Boulevard [in Sun City, Arizona].
At this time, it is impossible to know an exact repair cost until further inspection can be made below the surface. We do know that the three steel supports at the foundation must be repaired to restore the steel supports’ structural capacity to ensure further deterioration does not occur.
Whereas the preliminary cost estimate to remove the sundial is approximately $17,000, the preliminary cost estimate for repair is roughly $50,000. This is an unbudgeted expense, but several individuals have said they are willing to lend a monetary hand to help fix the sundial.
All donations earmarked for the sundial repairs should be made through the Sun City Foundation at 10626 W. Thunderbird Blvd., Sun City, Ariz. 85351. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. No timeline has been set for repairs, but the monument will be shored up in the near future to provide stability and the area will be fenced off for safety reasons.
The sundial monument has marked the location of Sundial Recreation Center at the corner of Boswell Boulevard and 103rd Avenue since the center opened in April of 1973 and will remain doing so for many years to come.
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