Deemed accountable, by their respective close associations with Crest Nicholson Plc, both institutions were again invited to review the matter in terms of their Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Investment Management Policies.

The Family have lost M V Picton, their own houseboat Home of 14 years, possession of all their worldly goods, (seized during the eviction), and a beautiful way of life, for their Family of five daughters, who, until the eviction, had only ever known houseboat-living. They were evicted nearly two years ago from Penarth Marina, in the heart of Cardiff Bay in Wales, after Crest Nicholson conducted a ‘beauty show’. Although ‘legally’ evicted, the Family website explains the totally unethical nature of this eviction, and sets out the events surrounding a night time accident, undisputedly caused by the marina company, when Marie Shalom was eight months pregnant, and the other children were asleep in bed.

Mr. Shalom gratefully received assurances from Halifax Manager, Lin Lewis, and Lloyds TSB Business Development Manager, Mr. David Ollington, that his petition and protest would be brought to the attention of some ‘higher authority’ within their respective institutions.

The Halifax and Bank of Scotland are part of the unified financial force known as HBOS, who are major investors with Crest Plc. Lloyds TSB Group, also listed as shareholders with Crest Nicholson played a major part in Crest’s hasty disposal of their marina operations division, Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited. This was soon after the Family eviction. Lloyds TSB Bank backed the management buy-out of that marina company, by former Crest employees, Andrew Yates and Simon Haigh. The company has since been renamed as Quay Marinas Limited which operates from Avon House in Bristol.

The Family have previously invited Crest Plc major shareholders and/or associations, to witness for themselves, the documented record between the Shalom Family, Crest Nicholson Marinas Limited and Mr. Callcutt. They include Mr. Marcel Ospel Chair of UBS Bank Switzerland, (Crest Plc Merchant Bankers), Mr. Gerald Ronson’s Heron International, The Legal & General Group, and Schroders Investment Management (all previously listed shareholders). The Family have also extended their invitation to Mr. John Matthews, Chairman of Crest Plc.

John Callcutt, Chief Executive Officer of Crest Plc is to ‘retire’ at the end of October but this gives no cause for celebration for the Shalom Family. Although he was solely responsible for enforcing health & safety in the Crest Group at the time of the accident to the Family Home, (and another to their daughter Rebekah), his lucrative career change comes at a time when the Family will commemorate the second anniversary of their Houseboat eviction, on 28th October 2005.

The sole aim of the Shalom Family Campaign for Justice is to achieve a ‘Fair & Just Solution’, but to date, it would appear that the Family of seven, their Home, their ‘way of life’ and their, personal private property, have yet to receive anything, but total corporate contempt.


End

Contacts:

The Shalom Family Campaign for Justice via website
www.mvpicton.co.uk

Crest Nicholson Plc
Crest House
Thames Street
Weybridge
Surrey
England

Tel 01932 847272
Fax 01932 840150