Diary extracts for June 1948

3rd Jun 1948:

Working on the 20x16 version of Mother and Child started some months ago. ['Mother and Child (Study)' (1948)]

7th Jun 1948:

Stretched a few canvases including a 30x25 on which I started a grand subject suggested by Mavis and Caroline who are reading ‘Worzel Gummidge’ together – ‘The Battle of Scarecrows’. [Battle of the Boggarts (1948)]

9th Jun 1948:

Decided to accept the invitation of the council to be up for election as Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

12th Jun 1948:

Crispin and I went into Southampton

. . .  We went into the Art Gallery to see some watercolours, when to our great surprise Leonard Daniels was there. He has just got the job of principal of Camberwell School of Art. Says there are over 2,000 students altogether! We had quite a long talk . . . 

18th Jun 1948:

To London to fetch carved frame for Chapel picture

23rd Jun 1948:

Put aside ‘Battle of the Boggarts’ having been a fortnight at it which is quite quick for me.

25th Jun 1948:

Started a 16x20 of foal and mare outside a red brick air raid shelter [Strange Nativity (1948)]

26th Jun 1948:

Concert in the Cloisters at Beaulieu Abbey

. . . During the playing ‘off-stage’ of Debussy’s Syrinx for flute solo, a thrush flew down and listened, and chaps looking over the arched wall and small groups of girls listening made a curious picture of expectancy and wonder.

28th Jun 1948:

Amazing offer fron HH Newton to make a present of a new studio if I can get one built

What an offer! And what generosity! I hardly know what to say to him about it.

28th Jun 1948:

Began painting 14x20 of escarpment and sandpit near Lyndhurst done from drawing made a few weeks ago.