Diary extracts for Apr to May 1949

2nd Apr 1949:

Buhler says

. . .  that my work looks very well and is much admired! Strange! He also says the general feeling among the painters is that it was refreshing to see someone working in their own way.

4th Apr 1949:

Capt Newman has bought little still life of sherry glass and apple, one of my favourites.

8th Apr 1949:

Went up to York on the through train with Crispin and Caroline.

They both behaved very well, Crispin looking out of the window at the tractors etc all the way. Caroline did drawings! which caused some amusement among the other passengers. A woman’s hat opposite inspired her to do an amusing concoction.

28th Apr 1949:

Heard the cheering news that two of my three paintings at the RA were sold on Private View day. 'Marine Harvest' to the Ferens Art Gallery for 100 gns. And 'The Battle of the Boggarts' to Captain Cunningham Reid for 150 gns

RA Banquet on radio.

Munnings quite uninhibited by the microphone, both he and Churchill sounded well oiled. Munnings attacked all Modern Art, and hit about him left and right.

5th May 1949:

At work on commission by old Mr Vincent, a dock scene which is also to contain small portraits of himself, Ben Vincent and sons.

7th May 1949:

Baby mule on the Forest. Evidently mules are very rare born in the open like this. Most of them come from Spain. It is certainly a strange little object, and it recalls to mind the donkey that made such a noise last year and led the ponies a devil of a life. They in their turn kicked him in the face unmercifully. But evidently he was persistent. There is a good deal of fun in the village about it. Evidently mules are very rare . . .