Old ex-student of Southend Art School , Alistair Young got in touch recently which was a nice surprise and trying to think back to what he looked like made me dig out these old snaps that Phil Spellacy took at the historic sports day back in the halycon days of 1967 - the Summer of Love and beatleish hair do's.
I may be wrong but I think that is Alistair on the back row with the glasses and the blazer? I'm sure Alistair will tell me if I am wrong! My memory of names is a bit hazy - the day too is a bit of a blur like most of the 60's - you know what they say!
I expect most of these people are retired and gaga by now. I expect Tony Oldfield and Leo Hardy are long gone. I'm still in touch with Barry, Phil, and Maureen but no idea what happened to all the others.
25 comments:
Thanks for sight of this photo Michael, It brings back many memories though not many names. I think the tall one behind Barry is David Day. I don't keep in touch with any of them now. I went off to Corsham (Bath Academy) then Cardiff for the teachers course. Taught in a school at Hayling Island then Forest of Dean where I set up my first pottery workshop. Ran a ceramics course at the Royal Forest Dean College for some years. Now back to making pots full-time. Married kids flown the nest etc.
Glad to catch up with you again Alistair. David Day - yes, I vaguely remember him. I have a photo of him and Jim? who went out with the blonde girl whose name I forget. Have a photo of them in the Sculpre room at McDonald Ave. where Catharni Stern used to teach. Rember her? "The plaster's gorn orf!"
I found your website. Have you written a book about ceramics or is that someone else?
Sadly Bill Freeth passed away some years ago - a lovely chap. I always enjoyed his ceramics classes though my pots were rubbish!
Yes the website is a disaster... have been trying to get my head round it for the last couple of years. Will get it sorted soon. I own up to the book as well bit of a how to do it rather than a who dunnit. Yes I remember Jim and the blonde girl who kept taking overdoses I think. Met Bill Freeth many years ago and was pleased to tell him that I had made a career(?) out of ceramics...I do remember Michaelangelo's apprentice who worked in the sculpture studio. Bob?? who was the original lifetime student. Roll ups and beethoven's 5th on 78's with a wind up gramophone.
This blog, links etc. is amazing. do you spend all of your time doing this?
I noticed your website was incomplete but assumed it was a new venture and was a work "in progress". I do spend far too long on the internet and blogging. I find the whole thing very "moreish"!
Bob Rider was a character who went on to study philosophy and baffle everyone with quotes from Thomas Aquinas etc. Sadly he died during an operation for his "hole in the heart" condition back in the 70's.
Do you remember Tony Eve? He vaguely remembers you at McDonald Ave. I was just talking to him on the phone. He lives not far away in Alsager near Stoke.
Yes Tony Eve, I remember the name though can't visualise the face!! Can't remember other names but can still picture them. The painting lecturer who did Rupert Bear paintings and the slick little 3D design man who came down from London. Bob Rider was a real character, somehow imagined him chipping away at a piece of stone still somewhere...
Bob Knee did the Rupert inspired drawings. He still lives in Leigh-on-Sea and recently had an exhibition in Cardiff that Rick Cox organised. Ron Mitchell was the 3-D design man.
There was also Alan Shillingford who taught printmaking.
Gordon Law aught painting at the old art school but I don't suppose you would know him. He lives in Pennsylvania now and we are still in touch.
Sarak Kent visited ocassinally for art history and worked for Time Out as an art critic - she popped up on TV ocassionally.
Ah yes, Bob knee. Another name I had forgotten. How do you remember? I suppose that if you see some of the others now and again they come up in conversation. For me its like a channel opening up to that time..over 40 years ago!!
Here's a name, Paul Smith, or Boughton-Smith. Made a 3d canvas with a huge seat from an American car.
Working flat out to get work ready for a Potters Fair, this weekend in Buxton. http://www.earthmarque.com/index.php?page=ceramics-in-the-round
I don't remember Paul Smith or the car seat. I was at Southend for four years sp plenty of time for those names to sink in! Bob Knee I remember because he was just a few years older than us and had a great droll sense of humour. He was always very encouraging with my paintings.
I drop him a line occasionally but he's not a great correspondent and not on the internet as far as I know.
Good luck in Buxton.
BTW that's Les Shaw seated like a guru ( twice). He taught graphics so don't remember that much though he seemed quite a character. He's still around apparently so his partner Carol said today on FaceBook where she's started a Southend School Of Art page . I tried to join but not succeeded yet. They must have gone out for the day as the weather is so nice.
Here's a LINK.
Max brandrett 1967. Google. Max
Hi Max- you must have started at Southend after we left. Why don't you join the FaceBook Southend School of Art group- maybe some people there you might know from 1967 onwards.
Hi, Apologies, but a quick question about Leo Hardy, who is pictured above as a tutor at Southend School of Art. Would anyone know of any relatives or friends of his? A friend of my mothers has a painting that she left to him in her will (blimey this is hard to phrase without it sounding like a Nigerian scam!) I'm assuming it's value is sentimental rather than financial... anyway if anyone knows anything I'd like to pass on info, many thanks, John H
Thanks for the info. John H. Not sure how to help you. I will mention it to the Southend Art School group on FaceBook who might know something. The only other thing I can suggest is contacting the Art School direct and they may have a record of his remaining relatives in their files.
OK, this is a reach, but I attended the school in '67. I had a good friend with your name while I was there. His girlfriend was called Lorraine, and I was 'with' Linda Pantry, another student. Anything to do with you?
Robert Knight (I was probably called Bob then).
robertknight2003@yahoo.co.uk
p.s. sorry, Alistair, I was asking after Alan Shillingford.
Robert Knight.
Hi Robert, Sorry I don't remember you - possibly you arrived as I left. I suggest you join the Southend School of Art group on Facebook and inquire there - lots of ex-students from that time are on it although they don't post as much as they shoul
d.
My Grandpa Leo Hardy died September 1989, His two children my Uncle Noel Hardy and Mum Gillian are still alive
Thanks Matt. Your Granpa interviewed me when I first applied to the art school back in 1962. I didn't see much of him after that. He was obviously busy running the art school and doing his still life classes with housewives. Nice that he managed to make it along to the sports day and get into the photo. Any other photos of him in the art school would be good to see if you have any? There's a dedicated Southend Art School page on FaceBook who would love to see them too I'm sure. Cheers!
Hello, Sadly my partner Les Shaw passed away 2017. Alan Shillingford is still going strong and is considering putting on an exhibition of his work at the new Beecroft next year. Please feel free to post your photographs and memories of Southend School of Art on the facebook page and have a look at all the lovely old photos that are already there. As it no longer exists it's a way of keeping a record of our memories. There is an art department in the new(ish) college but the School of Art was special. I was fortunate enough to attend 'the hut'for a while that was part of the original municipal college - such happy times. Wishing you a Happy New Year, Carol Ann
Hi my name is Pete Kelly or Brush was my nickname bestowed on me by Lou Banks R.I.P. I too was at the Hut for 2 years and McDonalds for 1 year names I remember are Tony Eve Rog Huckle Peter Chan Carol Hill Tony Worsley Angie Mills Thelma Chaney Wayne Boughen Jim Knope Jim Cottier Colin Dixon Sue Holden Pi Knight Ray Mumford
I'm trying to join the Southend Art School page but no luck so far!
Response to Pete Kelly. We have bumped into one another a few times since art college, sometimes in strange circumstances. And we both ended up using airbrushes.
I remember Bob Knee who taught painting, Alan Shillingford who taught print & Bill Freeth in ceramics. I was there '68-'69. I think the Prittlewell site was demolished fairly soon after. Strangely, many years later I ended up teaching art in Scunthorpe with a guy that had been at Hornsea College with Bob Knee.
Thanks for the memories as Perry Como used to sing. The Facebook Southend Art School group is still going so please join and share any photos, rememberings you may have.
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