Diary extracts for April 1951

3rd Apr 1951:

Felt terribly tired today and could hardly stand. After I had tucked myself up in the 6.30 train home, a face came down near mine from the corridor saying ”Would you care to come and have dinner with me?” It was Dr. Brierley. We had a good chat and certainly the feed did me good.

5th Apr 1951:

I started work in the garden, the first time for 9 months, and I felt pretty weary.

14th Apr 1951:

Vincent Poole, one of my students at Camberwell died, leaving a wife and two children.

The exhibition of students' work in the South London Art Gallery next door to the school of art was opened. And a good show it is too.

27th Apr 1951:

Elections at the RA

The PRA seems among other things to have got a new caterer, and wine flowed instead of beer. To begin with Sir Gerald Kelly told us we were not housetrained, for smoking before the King had been toasted. Then everyone waxed talkative and would not be kept in order. ‘Gentlemen, a lunch is a lunch and a joke is a joke, but we must get down to business!’ and I am still not sure whether I heard Sir Gerald kelly telling Ruskin Spear to stop kissing Laura Knight. After a great deal of trouble through about two and three quarter hours we elected Kennington, Greenham , and Lord Methuen as ARA.

27th Apr 1951:

RA Election.

Then to Redfern for final talk with Nan Kivell about Bradford Show (invited by the council, 70 paintings to go or be borrowed)