My brush with a famous artist

WheN you’re getting older, memories can flood back. I recently had to write to my old school, and the reply came on a picture postcard with a painting of the well-remembered building. I was at once swept back to the late Thirties, when apparently the London, Midland and scottish Railway had commissioned a series of paintings of Midlands schools by well-known artists as posters for it advertising campaign. Aged 11 and in my shorts, I happened to be crossing the deserted playing field one afternoon when I saw somebody sitting at an easel. Full of pre-teen curiosity, I went over to see what he was doing. I remember that I chatted with the artist for quite a while, never having heard of the famous Norman Wilkinson; and he even gave me his brush to add a green leaf to the tree on the edge of the canvas. It’s one of those nice memories, but sadly, I can’t remember which leaf is mine — perhaps I should have signed it. Tim Topps, Headington, Oxfordshire.

Follow-up:

I WAs called up for National service in January 1948 and joined the 42nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery at Crookenden Barracks, essen-Kupferdreh, Germany. I was a signaller, and my pal Ron was the driver of our Bren Gun carrier. About 25 years later my wife and I were on holiday in Mullion, Cornwall. As we were going there, I thought I would look Ron up, as I had an address for him and a photo of us together. We asked about directions to his address from an elderly man cutting his hedge. I explained the situation and showed him the photograph. ‘That’s my boy, Ron!’ he exclaimed. he went on to say that Ron had moved to st Austell, and that, as we were going to be in Mullion for a week, he would arrange for Ron to come over and meet us the next day. After that, we kept in touch for many years until Ron died.

Trevor Morgan, Exmouth, Devon.