I painted boot sale ‘Picasso’ for a bit of fun
Courtship blossomed despite terrible abuse
HOPES Philip with picture A CAR boot sale “Picasso” valued at £750,000 is a fake, it is claimed.
Professional forger David Henty insists he painted the artwork which experts believed to be an early version of the Spanish master’s Seated Bather.
Antiques collector Philip Stapleton, from Crawley, West Sussex, was stunned when auctioneers told him the painting he bought for £230 could be genuine.
But Henty, who claims to be one of the country’s best forgers, said: “It’s definitely mine. I did it for a bit of fun and gave it away about three years ago.”
Rosie May, of Brighton and Hove Auction Rooms, where the painting will be sold, said: “If it’s true it’s a mystery solved. But it’s sad to stamp on someone’s chance of good fortune.” LILIAN PETERKIN MARRIED FOR 65 YEARS A COUPLE who couldn’t walk down the street without suffering racial abuse have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
George and Lilian Peterkin first met in 1953 and say their relationship struggled against a backdrop of hatred towards mixed-race partners.
Lilian, 83, who was studying to be a nurse at the time, met her sweetheart on the first night out she ever had.
She said: “My father was a very strict man but I asked if I could go out for one night only. I met my husband at a town hall dance.
“He took over from a partner I had. We’re still courting now.”
She and retired preacher George, 87 – who had arrived from Jamaica the previous year – hit it off straight away and now have five children, 19 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
The early years of their relationship were fraught with prejudice, which forced them to hide away, taking back streets when out to avoid abuse.
Lilian said: “When we got together we used to walk around the back streets because there was a lot of prejudice around. Once we were walking with another couple and there was a man who said insults.
“We don’t think about those things any more. We’ve still remained quite strong through it.”
The pair, who live in Bradmore, Wolverhampton, got married on May 14, 1954, at the city’s register office.
It was two years to the day after George arrived in the UK.
The pair said the secret to their happy marriage is their religion. Lilian said: “I can say that Jesus has kept us together.
“These days when people get married, as soon as the reception is over they are phoning a solicitor for a divorce. “They don’t last long now, 65 years is a lifetime.”
We walked the back streets as there was prejudice