Sketch-Together : The Arches and the Hatton

The Boiler House, Newcastle University

(markers in A5 sketchbook)

To accommodate a visiting Luigi, who wouldn't be in Newcastle for any of our scheduled Sketch Crawls, Bob, Alan, Mark and I met up next to The Arches of Newcastle University. Waiting for Luigi to finish his breakfast, the rest of us started to draw, but he arrived soon after.

I know this view very well from my time at the University in the late 90s, but I've never drawn it, so I leaned against a convenient tree and made this drawing. Just as I finished, the heavens opened and we were forced to escape the rivers running across the pavement by sheltering under a tent left over from the recent Degree Congregations.

Even the tent began to leak and we ran round the corner to try for better shelter under a building overhang, though the spray still reached us.

Taking advantage of a brief lull in the rain, we trotted across to the Hatton Gallery. Although I could barely drag the others away from my two astounding artworks hanging in the Friends of the Hatton Summer Exhibition in the Long Gallery (see previous post), some of us did eventually settle down to draw the giant pots that Andrew Burton had previously shown at Gibside. 

While we drew, the "Gogmagog" sound installation by Matt Stokes filled the room with bells, voices and a brass band. 

I'm afraid either the giant pots or the sound installation had proven too much for the guest of honour, because by the time we were finished sketching and were ready for coffee, we couldn't find Luigi. I learned later he'd failed to find us and had gone off to watch the city's Pride Parade.

Studio 4, Tweed Street

Studio 4, Tweed Street, Berwick

(0.5 marker in A5 sketchbook)

After a week of great weather, it was disappointing see the forecast for Friday's trip to Berwick-Upon-Tweed showing "showers". Seven members of Gateshead Art Society had signed up for the ride in a people carrier, hired and driven by Allan, to see what we might find to do in Berwick. My plan, of course, was to do more urban sketching.

We parked the car on the south side of the Tweed and walked across the Old Bridge, then split up. I know Berwick slightly, but had no real idea what I wanted to draw, so wandered off up the hill, past the Town Hall and eventually stopped across the street from this curio shop in Tweed Street.The sky was already threatening and a handy doorway nearby added attraction to the view.

The woman in the shop (not the one in the drawing!) was still arranging her treasures outside on the pavement and every now and then I'd look up to find that the suitcase had moved from one side of the door to the other and the rugs in the basket had changed pattern. Luckily, the puffin (?) balanced on the table balanced on another table stayed put.

The rain started before I'd finished and I had to shelter in the doorway until it stopped and I could make my final additions. By then, I have to admit I was feeling the cold and the thought of something to eat was comforting, despite it being quite early, so I headed back down the hill towards the river.

The skies opened before I reached the Granary Gallery and by the time I was in and looking at a very nice collection of work by women artists, including Dame Laura Knight, Dod Procter and Mary Fedden, I was very glad of my umbrella.

With no sign of the rain letting up, I went downstairs to the YHA Granary Bistro and over a falafel and mozzarella panini, fiddled with the Studio 4 drawing. I probably overworked it, but it kept me amused.

On the way back to the car, with the rain having moved off, I suddenly realised the Dockside Gallery was just along the road from the car park and had a few minutes to chat there before my mobile rang calling me back.

It rained quite a lot on the way home, but Gateshead had been spared.

My Dad's Diary : Sat 27th December 1947

"Raining all day.

Didn't go out."

My Dad's Diary : Thur 4th December 1947

"C.S. Exam today.

Sat for it and didn't do too bad.

Rain poured down.

G.W. did overtime."

I don't know if we'll find out the result of Dad sitting the Civil Service exam before the Diary ends, but I do know, of course, that he did go on eventually to be an Executive Officer.

Years later, when I was in the Civil Service, I worked with a man called George Wilson who'd worked with my Dad. I wonder if he might have been "G.W.".

My Dad's Diary : Sat 22nd November 1947

"Raining - Had quiet afternoon.

All chrysanths nipped with frost."

My Dad's Diary : Tues 11th November 1947

"132F. See Mr. Brown at 9.20 Wed.

Back in own room.

Raining."

My Dad's Diary : Thur 6th November 1947

"Still short of rain.

Sold book of raffle tickets (R.A.S.C.).

Had night at home after overtime."

My Dad's Diary : Sun 19th - Thur 23rd October 1947

Sun 19th September

"Usual Sunday."

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Mon 20th September 

"Neighbour was put in own room today - took over 46-66.

Drew £23 from Post Office."

The first part is obviously to do with Messenger services at work.

Here's Dad (on the left) in 1948 with "my Messengers".

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Tues 21st September

"Foggy morning.

But still very little rain has fallen.

Received £12 for settee."

I guess this was the old settee recently replaced by the three piece suite .

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Wed 22nd September

"Fine but chilly.

Slight fog.

Paid for 3 Pce Suite - £34."

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Thur 23rd September

"Dull.

Went to G'head Odeon to see Sinbad the Sailor."



Sinbad, the Sailor (1947) starring the great Douglas Fairbanks, Jr and Maureen O'Hara. : "In medieval Persia, during the rule of Caliph Harun-Al-Rashid, Sinbad the Sailor boasts about his latest adventures to his friends."

My Dad's Diary : Fri 19th September 1947

"Rain."

My Dad's Diary : Mon 15th September 1947.

"Dull all day, but no rain."

My Dad's Diary : Sat 13th September 1947

"Very heavy rain in early morning.

Sunny in afternoon.

Took Doris to see The Red House at Gateshead Odeon."

In The Red House, starring Edward G. Robinson, "An old man and his sister are concealing a terrible secret from their adopted teen daughter, concerning a hidden abandoned farmhouse, located deep in the woods."

My Dad's Diary : Fri 12th September 1947

"Dull but dry.

Heavy rain during the night."

My Dad's Diary : Thur 11th September 1947

"Very dull days. Still no rain. Overtime every night.

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Mother and Winnie leave for Edinburgh today.

Slight rain during night."

They'd have been going to stay with Grandma's half sister, Jessie, in Edinburgh. Here's a photograph of the two half sisters together in 1954, Gran on the left.

My Dad's Diary : Wed 10th September 1947

"Very dull days. Still no rain. Overtime every night.

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Doris went to doctor's about bad back."

My Dad's Diary : Tues 9th September 1947

"Very dull days. Still no rain. Overtime every night.

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Very windy."

My Dad's Diary : Mon 8th September 1947

This appears across the entries for the next four days:

"Very dull days. Still no rain. Overtime every night."

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"Very windy."

My Dad's Diary : Sat 6th September 1947

"Dull day, but still no rain.

Took Doris to Gateshead Odeon. Lost her gloves."

My Dad's Diary : Wed 3rd September 1947

"No rain.

Overtime.

11 hours of overtime due - 27/6."

That's £1.35 for working 11 hours overtime! To put it into context, the back pages of the Diary show that on 4th September, he was paid a week's wages of £4.13.11 (£4.65).

My Dad's Diary : Fri 1st September 1947

"Still no rain.

Overtime.

1st year's increment due from today."

My Dad's Diary : Thur 28th August 1947

"Still no rain.

Spent evening at garden."