Friday Face

Chalk & Ice

One of the highlights last year was the adventure to East Sussex and the marvellous Peggy Angus exhibition at the Towner gallery in Eastbourne. This was followed by a visit to the wonderful Furlongs where Peggy lived and Ravilious visited so often - friend Demus and I were invited to walk around the garden after finding the property by its lovely understanding owner. We pictured some of the scenes ER painted and looked at from his very sitting / painting position.

Furlongs - 1934

Furlongs - 2014

You can still listen to the splendid BBC Radio 3 Sunday Feature: Chalk and Ice (by clicking this link) which was aired back in February and if you haven't done so you may like to squeeze in a visit to the Dulwich Picture Gallery where a huge exhibition of the great mans work is showing until 31st August - we are hatching another adventure to visit that in the coming weeks.

The old saying goes - take only memories and leave only footprints - I always have this in the back of my mind, but I did actually pick up a fallen cobble which was hidden in the grass. It now rests on my desk as a paperweight and something to fondle as a memory of this treasured corner of England.

"I am, so to speak, a showman"

My images do not do this delightful scene justice! My fascination with puppets and all things Punch & Judy is as a result of helping my friend at school deliver a series of P&J shows to all the other classes. He was a master and I his helper - it was an exciting thing for a seven year old to be involved with before Christmas and has stayed with me ever since. I am gripped with a feeling of nostalgia in its purest form whenever I see puppets like this.

As if by magic the window of a local beauticians shop was transformed overnight to this wonderful cabinet of curiosities relating to the showman's art. If Barbara Jones was researching material for a new book I am sure this would have been included.

This excellent article, accompanied by even better images, explains the reason behind the display (click on the link here). 

It won't last long. The shop has recently been sold so I expect all of them to disappear as quickly as they arrived and the town of Bridport will be all the poorer for it. Joy & John Rodber we thank you! 

Friday Face

St Basil of Toller Fratrum

When I started my journey collecting the Shell Guides the one title I wanted to find, for obvious reasons, was the Dorset volume. As I have said previously, the joy of these delightful books is not only the hidden treasures within the county landscape that the editor directs you to, but the atmospheric photography - usually John Piper, sometimes Edward Piper and if you are really lucky Paul Nash or Edwin Smith.

The first Shell guide to Dorset was published in 1935 - written and illustrated by Nash it is as rare as Burbot in River Toller (or River Hook as it is now known). You will have to make do with the still very good later Pitt-Rivers edition which includes much of the original by Nash........and if you are lucky only for the price of a pint of beer! 

The one image in the Dorset guide that, for me, stands out above all others is of the late Saxon font at St Basil, Toller Fratrum by John Piper. The guide did its job - it made me investigate the church and it has now become a regular place to visit when in that part of the county. What are the figures depicting? Moses saving the Israelites in the battle of Amalekites? Christ or Saint Michael, with cross leading souls from hell? Creatures attacking a man, a fallen Golden Calf, slain Amalekites? Take your pick, but I find it totally mesmerising. 
  The wonderful Little Toller Books have published a small book on the church which can be purchased directly from them (click on this link) - another book I must add to my "wants" list!  

    

Weird Veg!

The Captain thinks I am rude and blushes when I hold up such veg from the box, but I find such things a glorious freak of nature. Titter ye not. You wouldn't see this on the shelf in Tesco oh no. It doesn't conform you see. It will also taste a million times better than one from the supermarket - weird veg I salute you!

Down the deep lanes

Clifford Harper

Friday Ditty Pt 13

Have you had enough yet?

I did weeks ago, before they even started. All of them totally removed from reality and nothing at all in common with ordinary folk on the street. I used to love getting updates from Oliver Postgate who had it all sussed out in his blog posts for the New Statesman - he made good sense of it all in this wonderful short 1974 Clangers film. You can see the full episode (courtesy of the BFI) by clicking here.

More blossom?

Blenheim Orange

Can you ever have enough? I know since starting this blog I may have overloaded you on the blossom front, but you will just have to put up with me I am afraid. It is one small part of the natural calendar that continues to bring me much pleasure. I have spent a good few hours this last week sat right in this blossom in our family orchard up country - it changes by the day and is a good place to contemplate life's tribulations with a mug of tea. It keeps coming - plum, cherry, pear, apple - sort of in that order, although we are seeing a second flush of pear blossom which I can't recall noticing before on those same trees which have already blossomed.

Cherry - then

Cherry - now

The blossom differs so much from tree to tree. Blenheim Orange is almost watery by comparison to the rich and dark Ashmead's Kernel. The whole orchard is alive with a myriad of insects and birds all taking advantage of this annual extravaganza.

Ashmead's Kernel

   
The scene changes daily and the slightest of winds can make you believe you are in a winter wonderland as a blossom blizzard covers everything. Nocturnal visitors include fox and badger who betray their presence by crapping in the orchard and the roe deer which like to tear the bark from the trees. All are welcome.