Charity Archives - Helen McCrory

The McCrory Award Fundraiser Auction

On December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 By helenistic No Comments

The Sir Hubert von Herkomer Arts Foundation is proud to present The Helen McCrory Award Fundraiser Auction, created in collaboration with Steven Robertson Art Gallery, to raise vital funds for HvH Arts, a charity founded in 2012 by Debbi Clark and Mark von Herkomer.

This special auction features artworks created in honour of the foundation’s patron Helen McCrory, a remarkable advocate for the arts who was photographed numerous times by some of the world’s leading photographers, including Charlie Gray, Jason Bell, Debbi Clark, Clive Arrowsmith, David Venni, Ian Derry, and Ray Burmiston – all of who have donated beautiful one-to-one signed images.

The auction runs from Sunday, December 7 – Thursday, December 18, 2025.

Launch Auction

HvH Arts is dedicated to providing young people aged 5–18 with accessible, inspiring, and safe spaces to discover and develop their creativity.

At a time when arts education is increasingly squeezed out of the mainstream curriculum, HvH Arts offers children opportunities to explore painting, filmmaking, sculpture, photography, and more—guided by top practitioners and supported in a judgement-free environment where self-expression can flourish.

Your support enables HvH Arts to continue opening doors to the arts for young people who might otherwise never have the chance.

“Picasso famously said that every child is an artist. And we at the HVH Arts are passionate about ensuring that every child is given a chance to connect with and to express their inner artist in a time when funding for education is such that the arts are squeezed out of the mainstream curriculum in favour of more traditionally ‘academic’ subjects. All young people need positive outlets for their energy, and the arts can help children flourish in ways other subjects cannot. We believe Arts education opens doors to a world that too many young people don’t have many opportunities to explore and we aim to do something about this situation!”
– Helen McCrory

For more information, visit HvH Arts Foundation here.

Manon McCrory Becomes Youth Ambassador for Sir HvH Arts

On October 28, 2025October 29, 2025 By helenistic No Comments

Honoring Her Mother’s Legacy

Juliet Conway | October 28, 2025 | Daily Mail

Manon with her father Damian Lewis and brother Gully McCrory-Lewis at Burberry Show, London Fashion Week early this year

It’s been four years since the death of Peaky Blinders and Harry Potter star Helen McCrory.

Now, her daughter, Manon, 19, has spoken publicly for the first time about the beloved late star – and the deeply moving way she is keeping her memory alive.

Manon, whose father is Homeland star Damian Lewis, 54, has revealed she has taken her mother’s surname to honour her legacy and is following in her philanthropic footsteps

The London-born art student has become a youth ambassador for the Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation (HVH), which was incredibly close to her mother’s heart.

Helen, who died from breast cancer aged 52 in April 2021 after keeping the diagnosis secret from the public, was a patron since its inception in 2013.

The charity, run by photographer Debbi Clark, provides free art education and creative opportunities for young people from underprivileged backgrounds.

Continue reading Manon McCrory Becomes Youth Ambassador for Sir HvH Arts

Charity Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders Auction of Original Costumes Raises £19k for Cancer Charity

On June 2, 2025June 2, 2025 By helenistic No Comments

Polly’s Coat Sold In Auction For Manchester Hospital

By Mathilde Grandjean | The Independent | May 23, 2025

An auction of original costumes from BBC TV series Peaky Blinders, including a suit worn by actor Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby in the show’s final scenes, has raised £19,000 for charity.

The 48-year-old Irish actor wore the period-style grey three-piece suit in the final episode of the sixth series.

The suit, which came with a handwritten note on a piece of script found in a pocket which says: “takes off ring”, sold for £1,650.

The highest price of £3,000 was fetched by a three-piece woolen suit, also worn by Murphy as Tommy Shelby, which comes with a label reading “Tommy suit C”.

Aunt Polly’s tailored coat with stitched patterns from Series 3 Episode 4 was sold in the auction

A hat worn by Sam Claflin, who played fascist MP Oswald Mosley during series five and six, sold for £180, and a coat worn by the late Helen McCrory as Shelby family matriarch Polly Gray in episode four of series three sold for £650.

Continue reading Peaky Blinders Auction of Original Costumes Raises £19k for Cancer Charity

Charity Damian Lewis Personal and Family Life Print Media Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation

9/11 trading day helps to continue Helen McCrory’s legacy, says charity founder

On September 30, 2022September 30, 2022 By helenistic 1 Comment

BGC Charity Day

By Ellie Iorizzo | The Evening Standard | September 29, 2022

Since its launch in 2004, BGC and its celebrity ambassadors have raised around 192 million dollars (£176 million) for global charitable causes.

Damian Lewis during the BGC annual charity day at Canary Wharf in London (Kirsty O’Connor/PA) / PA Wire

Peaky Blinders star Helen McCrory’s “legacy” is maintained through the charity she helped to establish before her death which benefits massively from the 9/11 trading day, the charity’s founder has said.

Film and stage star Damian Lewis, 51, returned to the BGC Partners brokerage firm in Canary Wharf on Thursday to support the Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation (HVH Arts) – for which his late wife McCrory was patron.

Lewis, who was also supporting the charity Cure EB, told the PA news agency:

“I love the idea of trading, I would be terrible at it in real life.”

Continue reading 9/11 trading day helps to continue Helen McCrory’s legacy, says charity founder

Damian Lewis Personal and Family Life Print Media Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation Tributes

Thousands raised in memory of ‘inspiring’ brother and his aunt, Helen McCrory

On July 21, 2022July 21, 2022 By helenistic No Comments

Riding all the way from London to Madrid for Hugo and Helen

Lily Ford | July 21, 2022 | Evening Standard

An Army officer has raised thousands of pounds for charity by cycling 2,100 kilometres from London to Madrid in memory of his “inspiring” brother and his aunt, actress Helen McCrory.

Tom Yaxley, 32, is the brother of Hugo Yaxley and nephew of McCrory, who died from cancer in April 2021 aged 52.

Mr Yaxley has embarked on the cycle across Europe for Ride4Hugo, a series of fundraising events organised by friends and family which have earned more than £115,000 for four charities.