TH E A R T &
T H E
C H A R A C T E R S
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A
LIF E OF
A N D
P E O P L E
I N
A N D
A R O U N D
R ETR OSP EC TIV E
P O RT H L E V E N
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TH E A R T &
T H E
A
LIF E OF
C H A R A C T E R S
A N D
P E O P LE
I N
A N D
A RO U N D
R ETR OSP EC TIV E
P O RT H LE V E N
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F OR EW
OR D
The Art & Life of
JIM TINLEY – A RETROSPECTIVE F O R E W O R D
B Y
S U S A N
S
T I N L E Y
turn this wet, smelly and long-unused space into an art gallery.
hortly after Jim died in November 2018, our son Joe suggested we put on a retrospective exhibition of his work. We all agreed it was a lovely idea, but the time just wasn’t right.
As a family, we went to work. It was a long journey with many laughs and tears (some of frustration!) and above all, some self-discovery. We mixed some of Jim’s ashes into the display board paint so that he was there throughout.
Then earlier this year, I was asked if I’d like to exhibit some of Jim’s work during the first Porthleven Arts Festival, and the seed of an idea that Joe had sown a couple of years ago, started to sprout and grow and flourish into something quite wonderful!
I had two main objectives in holding this exhibition: I wanted to remind people of – and introduce others to – Jim’s extraordinary talent, but most importantly in an effort to suspend the meteoric speed of change for just a moment, I hoped to retain some of Porthleven’s history through Jim’s pictorial images and to give old Porthleven families and their friends a sense of pride, belonging and ownership in the making of their town.
The venue was all important; it had to reflect the basic, honest, unambiguous nature of Jim’s paintings and drawings. I couldn’t think of a more suitable place than the Breageside Warehouse, it being one of the oldest buildings on the harbour. In fact, some of Jim’s ‘characters’ to be exhibited would be the grandchildren of the people that built the warehouse!
I felt those aims were met in the exhibition and hopefully, this book will carry them through for generations to come.
Trevor Osborne, Harbour & Dock Co. boss and long-time friend and admirer of Jim’s art, very readily gave his blessing and full carte blanche to do whatever was needed to
SUSAN TINLEY
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F OR EW
OR D
ABOVE
Exhibition in The Shack Studio, 1977
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C OM
M
ENT
It is more than 0 years since I first met Jim. His highly individual character was reflected in his art. His portraiture combined the essence of Porthleven, namely the folk who constitute the illage Community. Jim was unique and so are his paintings and drawings. The nature and character of the artist is embedded and joined with the faces he recorded in his art.
TREVOR OSBORNE
Porthleven Harbour & Dock Company
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C ONTENTS
C O N T E N T S 8
THE LIFE OF JIM TINLEY
10
S E L F P O RT R A I T
12
P O O L P L AY E R
14
4 LADIES & A LITTLE GIRL, S A LT C E L L A R H I L L
16
ALICE IN BLUEBELLS
18
A RT I S T ’ S W I F E
20
ALLEGORIES 1 AND 2
22
BRENDA DOWNING
24
A R T I S T W I T H F A M I LY FRIEND,MONICA
54
HOMAGE TO MANET’S LE D E J E U N E R S U R L’ H E R B E
56
JOSEPH (JOEY) ALLEN
58
K E N N E T H ( K A P I TA N KEN) MILBURN
60
K I D S O N H O L I D AY
62
M I S S M AY WAT E R S
64
MURIEL WILLIAMS
66
CLIFFORD ‘KIPPER’ RICHARDS
68
ON RINSEY BEACH
70
PUB LUNCH IN LONDON
72
R O B E RT ( B O B ) S M I T H
74
RODNEY CHARLES J E F F E RY L E W I N
76
R O N N I E B R AY
78
T H E C A R D P L AY E R S
80
SANDY MUNRO
82
TINLEY BOYS – LUKE, JOSEPH, AND JACOB IN THE GARDEN
26
A RT I S T ’ S W I F E 1 A N D 2
28
CHESS
30
AUNT NESS
32
B E P PA N
34
C AT H E R I N E W I L L I A M S
36
DOREEN WILLIAMS
38
F A M I LY B O A T – THE MFV MORLADER
40
T H E C A R D P L AY E R S
84
W I L L I A M ( W I L LY ) B A R T L E T T
42
F R E D L AV I N M AT T H E W S
86
W I L L I A M E WA R T R O G E R S
44
EUCHRE IN THE F I S H E R M E N ’ S S H E LT E R
88
T H E I S B E L L F A M I LY M E N O N S A LT C E L L A R H I L L
46
90 J A C K ( T A I LY ) L A I T Y
48
92
W I L LY S T E V E N S
J E F F ‘ PAT C H ’
50
94
THANKS AND LOANS
JOHN STRIKE JOSEPH (JOE) RUSSELL
96
COMMENTS AND EULOGY
52
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BIOG
T H E
L I F E
R A P H Y
O F
J I M
T I N L E Y
BIOGRAPHY
I
n 1962, when the young Jeremy William ea Tinley was offered a place at Falmouth Art chool, his first priority was to lose the pet name given to him by his family, so ‘Jem’ became Jim...thereby, shaking off the public schoolboy image forever! At that time, Falmouth Art chool was a very intimate little college with less than a hundred students, meaning that close friendships were forged and much partying went on. It was at one of these legendary art school parties that Jim met ue, a pupil at Truro rammar chool and his future life-partner. In those days, Falmouth was only offering the one year Pre-Diploma course and students were required to apply elsewhere to complete another three years of study to gain the Diploma in Art and Design.
niversity with some teaching practice at the famous anchester rammar chool, Jim now had letters after his name and could apply for teaching posts.
Jim applied to a couple of art schools including in ondon, knowing that ue planned to move there when she finished school, but on two occasions was turned down because of his colour blindness!
In 1 , Jim and ue married and settled in Taunton, omerset. The first teaching post was in a econdary odern chool in very rural Huish piscopi. To Jim’s surprise, he quite enjoyed teaching and, in his spare time, continued to experiment with different artistic styles and mediums.
He eventually gained a place at Portsmouth, quickly made friends, moved into the flat from hell and thrived like never before. He worked on road gangs and washed up in restaurants during the holidays, to supplement his student grant. The three-year course was soon over and despite having spent much of the time whi ing back and forth to ondon on his 00cc B A motorbike to visit ue, he managed to gain his diploma.
By the time the couple’s third child was expected, they had decided it was time to move back to Cornwall. In 1 , they settled down with their sons uke, Joseph and Jacob in Porthleven, and it was here that Jim experienced living within a close community, for the first time in his life.
Not quite knowing what to do next, Jim offered to work on the family farm until his dad retired, when he assumed he would step into his father’s shoes. His offer was firmly declined, on the grounds that an art degree was not going to grow spuds!
Having been sent to boarding school from an early age, Jim would spend school holidays in the rural idyll that was his home. nfortunately with no other children nearby, the young Jem spent most of his holidays doing farm chores, wandering the fields, shooting pigeons or fishing in the creek...all solitary pursuits.
Teaching seemed to be the only alternative, and after a year-long course at anchester
TOP
Jim in The Breageside Studios, 1979
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BIOG
R A P H Y
When Jim had a solo show of pencil and charcoal drawings in Trevor Osborne’s Twickenham art gallery in 1979, the world-renowned Pop-Artist, Eduardo Paolozzi visited the exhibition and stated: “It’s good to see someone can still draw.” However once in Porthleven, he found himself in the hub of a busy fishing village. He was mixing and socialising in the pubs with deep sea fishermen who would have been away at sea for weeks on end and when back on land, would spend their hard-earned cash on beer and card games. These pub evenings and or lunchtimes could be quite riotous, huge fun and always entertaining. Jim was in his element and his creative juices started to flow! He had always been a keen photographer and used the camera as an aid to capture moments in time. His style now well and truly embraced Photorealism, a style that was originally shunned by the ‘Art stablishment’ but was later accepted as a valid and acceptable art form.
“Jim’s A Level teacher once told him that if he could learn to paint as well as he could draw, he would make a name for himself one day.”
As Jim would explain it: ou and I look at a group of people over there and we think we’re seeing the same thing, but when we describe what we’re seeing, it’s quite different because we’re looking at it with different eyes...it’s just the same with a photograph. In 1 80, Jim and ue’s hitherto elusive daughter, Alice li abeth was born and the Porthleven Tinleys were complete! In the meantime, Jim’s medium had almost completely switched from pencil drawing to oil painting...the latter being a skill he had always struggled with, until now.
Jim was a reluctant exhibitor but was persuaded to ‘come out’ on a few occasions, starting with a show in Trevor Osborne’s Twickenham gallery in 1 and then a few in Porthleven, the final one being held in itto’s Net oft in 1 . He could never be described as a prolific painter because his works, with all their meticulous detail, took weeks, sometimes months to produce. After years spent capturing Porthleven’s characters, with all their idiosyncrasies, quirks and charm, Jim Tinley would himself go on to become one of those very characters, well and truly woven into Porthleven lore and a legend in his own time. Jim’s story is told by Susan Tinley.
ABOVE
TOP
Jim in The Smithy, Ship Inn
The opening of The Breageside Studios with fellow artists, Sally Cole and Nell Pascoe 1982
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R A P H Y
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BIOG
R A P H Y
SELF-PORTRAIT P E N C I L D R AW I N G
Jim was a keen photographer, an interest born out of the first Brownie 12 box camera he was given as a boy. He later went on to use a the family bathroom!
mm camera, developing his own film in
1 1
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BIOG
R A P H Y
P O O L P L AY E R – S E L F - P O RT R A I T OILS ON BOARD
As part of a BT C course, Jim’s daughter Alice took several photos of him playing pool. he developed them as black and white images and presented them to her dad. He liked them immediately and decided to reproduce one as a coloured painting. The interesting point about this is that Jim was severely red green colour blind. In fact, his application to t artin’s chool of Art failed because of this ‘handicap’. The bai e of the table is very green...
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BIOG
R A P H Y
1 3
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4 L A D I E S A N D A L I T T L E G I R L , S A LT C E L L A R H I L L
14
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4 L A D I E S A N D A L I T T L E G I R L , S A LT C E L L A R H I L L
4
L A D I E S A N D A L I T T L E G I R L , S A LT C E L L A R H I L L All in this picture are Porthleven born.
M R S J U N E R U L E ( N E E PA S C O E )
M R S M A RY G I L B E RT ( N E E R U S S E L L )
First from left
Second from right
Went to live with husband Bill in the USA. Both returned to Porthleven on retirement. June had four siblings: Roy, Arthur, Susie and Doreen Pascoe.
Before marriage to Reggie Gilbert, Mary was married to Bob Dunne who was friends with the famous 1887 World Heavyweight Champion, Bob Fitzsimmons.
M R S LY L I E H E N D Y ( N E E R U S S E L L )
M R S L I S A R O B E RT S ( N E E H E N D Y )
Second from left
First from right
Married to Harry, a local butcher. Both lived in Porthleven all their lives. Lylie’s siblings were Mary Gilbert, Louise Williams, Avis Ruberry, Leonard Russell, Joe Russell and Stanley Russell.
Lisa is the 5 year old girl in the picture, and is granddaughter to Lylie and niece to Mary. Lisa is now living in Barnstable, Devon, with husband Andrew and their four children, Ben, Abi, Jacob and Dominic.
M RS FAN N Y H EN D Y ( N EE TR E G E MB O )
Details from Mr and Mrs Joe Hendy.
Third from left Married to Tal Hendy. Fanny’s siblings were Henry Tregembo, Edward Tregembo and Jannie Tregembo.
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ALICE IN B LU EB ELLS
ALICE IN BLUEBELLS OILS ON BOARD
Jim’s daughter Alice, among the bluebells in Penrose woods.
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ALICE IN B LU EB ELLS
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ARTIST’ S W
IF E
18
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ARTIST’ S W
IF E
ARTIST’S WIFE OILS ON BOARD
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ALLEGO
RIES 1 AND 2
ALLEGORIES 1 AND 2 A C RY L I C PA I N T S A N D P E N C I L O N PA P E R
These painting/drawings are the result of a method known as ‘Turps-Rubbing’, where one daubs turpentine onto a newspaper image, turns the page over onto a piece of drawing paper and rubs the back of the page with the curved side of a spoon. This results in a part image appearing on the drawing paper and the artist chooses how much shape or detail he wishes to emphasise. Jim named these ‘Allegories’ because one can look forever for hidden meanings and forms. Interestingly, many years later he tried to demonstrate the process to one of his grandchildren but discovered that modern newspaper print doesn’t rub off like the print of the 1 0s!
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ALLEGO
RIES 1 AND 2
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B RENDA DO
W
NING
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B RENDA DO
W
NING
BRENDA DOWNING 19 3 5 -
19 9 6
OILS ON BOARD
Brenda was a Rinsey girl who attended the West Cornwall School for Girls in Penzance. One day, whilst distractedly looking out of the window on the top deck of the school bus, Brenda espied a handsome young man on the other side of the glass working up a telegraph pole. That young man was Porthlevener, Keith Downing. It was love at first sight for the pair of them. ome years later, Brenda and Keith were married and lived happily together in Porthleven with their two young daughters Liz and Kath. As well as being a cherished and hugely popular member of the community, Brenda was also the artist’s much-loved sister-in-law.
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ARTIST W
ITH F AM
I LY
F RIEND, M
O
NICA
A R T I S T W I T H F A M I LY FRIEND, MONICA OILS ON BOARD
2 4
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ARTIST W
ITH F AM
I LY
F RIEND, M
O
NICA
2 5
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ARTIST’ S W
IF E 1 AND 2
2 6
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ARTIST’ S W
IF E 1 AND 2
A RT I S T ’ S W I F E 1 A N D 2 HARD EDGE ACRYLICS ON BOARD
This ‘Hard Edge’ style of painting was usually applied to the abstract form with the edges of colours being clearly delineated with no blending into each other. These are the only two surviving Tinley examples of this style, out of a collection of maybe a dozen. Unfortunately, most of them were of very large dimensions and impractical for transportation when the family moved from Somerset to Cornwall in 1973. The children enjoyed the bonfire...!
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CHESS
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CHESS
CHESS P E N C I L D R AW I N G
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AU NT NESS
AUNT NESS OILS ON BOARD
Jim met Ness at his son and daughter-in-law’s house warming party and was immediately struck by her expression of warmth and serenity. He took a series of photographs, and finding it di cult to choose one in particular, he decided to use three!
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AU NT NESS
3 1
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B EP P AN
B E P PA N P E N C I L D R AW I N G
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B EP P AN
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C AT H E R I N E W
ILLIAM
S
C AT H E R I N E W I L L I A M S PENCIL
Catherine, who lived alone, was a well respected and loved lady, often known as ‘Aunty Catherine’ One of her neighbours fondly remembers her coming around to her parents’ house each Christmas to watch the circus on the T and how, as a very proficient seamstress, she would make clothes for the children. Catherine apparently had a sharp tongue which was softened by a good sense of humour!
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C AT H E R I N E W
ILLIAM
S
3 5
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DO
REEN W
ILLIAM
S
DOREEN WILLIAMS OILS ON BOARD
lamorous ‘ adame Butterfly’ Doreen was a true one-off. A gentle soul, full of wonder and charm, many believed her to have psychic powers. One story tells of Doreen bumping into a reveller, enthusiastically enjoying his stag-do at the Atlantic Inn. When the groom-to-be took a tumble, Doreen looked down, stared deep into his eyes and said: It’ll never last And it turned out she was right!
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DO
REEN W
ILLIAM
S
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F AM
I LY
B O
AT –
THE M
F V
M
O
RLADER
F A M I LY B O A T – T H E M F V M O R L A D E R OILS ON BOARD
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F AM
I LY
B O
AT –
THE M
F V
M
O
RLADER
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T H E C A R D P L AY E R S
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T H E C A R D P L AY E R S
T H E
C A R D
P L AY E R S
OILS ON BOARD
T O M M Y ( B O N U S ) PA S C O E
R O B B I E PA S C O E
Facing
Left
Tommy served as a shipwright for the famous Kitto & Son boat builders who contributed massively to the more than 1,600 boats of all si es, built on the Harbour Head over a period of 100 years. These included two vessels built for the Hudson Bay Company, the Fort Churchill which left Porthleven harbour in August 1 1 on the ,000 mile voyage to Hudson Bay, followed by the Fort York one year later.
Robbie worked for Harvey’s coalyard in Commercial Road and would have helped to empty the visiting coal-carrying boats that moored up under Commercial Quay (The Harbour Inn). CHARLIE SEARLE
Right Read Charlie’s story on page 79.
TOMMY JEWELL
With his back to us Tommy and Robbie’s stories told by Mr Roger Hosking.
Read Tommy’s story on page 79.
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F R E D L AV I N M
AT T H E W
S
F R E D L AV I N M AT T H E W S 1 9 0 3
-
19 9 2
OILS ON BOARD
Fred avin was Porthleven born and raised. He left school at the age of 13 and worked for Kitto & Son where he served his apprenticeship as a shipwright. In 1 2 during the depression, he worked at anchester hip Canal and later at the oyal Naval Dockyard at Devonport, returning to work at Falmouth Docks in 1 . He spent his last two working years at NA Culdrose. Fred avin atthews was one of the oldest members of the Porthleven Apostolic Church.
Fred’s story is told by Martin Matthews (Curator, Helston Museum).
42
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F R E D L AV I N M
AT T H E W
S
43
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EU C H R E IN TH E F ISER M
E N ’ S S H E LT E R
E U C H R E I N T H E F I S H E R M E N ’ S S H E LT E R P E N C I L D R AW I N G
FRED (UNCLE JOHN) ORCHARD
CECIL HOSKING (1915-1992)
Left
Right
As a retired fisherman, Fred would spend many happy days playing cards, either in the hip Inn or in the Fishermen’s shelter. He was a great favourite with the holiday makers in the hip, as he regaled them with fishy yarns in return for a pint of beer!
Cecil Hosking was raised in a two-bedroom thatched cottage along the oe Bar oad which he shared with father Walter, mother Olga, his six siblings, and yspy the donkey – a mule with such a deadly aim, she could kick the eye out of a spider , as Cecil was known to say.
His uchre playing was legendary, as he passed thinly veiled signals to his partner to let him know what suit to call.
Cecil enjoyed a full life as a fisherman, having signed on as a young man with Frankie and atthew owe Bowden on The Ivy, until he was able to buy his own 2 ft crabber, The Provider. In 1 , Oliver & ons built him a ft crabber and pilchard driver which he also called Provider in tribute to his previous boat. ons ichael and David crewed her and would later go on to operate fishing boats of their own. 0 years later when he sold her, Cecil decided to downsi e and took on a smaller boat, the My Renie, which he kept until his retirement at the age of 2.
According to his daughter, the late ily Plumbridge, he was given the nickname ‘ ncle John’ because as a little boy, he called all his dad’s friends ‘ ncle John’ and so all the ‘ ncle Johns’ turned the name back on him!
Never a drinker, Cecil was surprised one day when someone approached him to say they’d seen him in the hip Inn. I’ve never been in the hip in my life! he exclaimed. As it turned out, Cecil had been in the hip, but only as part of the portrait you see here, which hung on the pub wall for everyone to enjoy in late 1 8 . Cecil’s story is told by his son Roger Hosking.
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EU C H R E IN TH E F ISER M
E N ’ S S H E LT E R
4 5
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J ACK
( TA I LY )
LAITY
J A C K ( T A I LY ) L A I T Y OILS ON BOARD
Jack Taily was a lifelong fisherman working out of Porthleven harbour. ‘Tough as old boots’ Jack was an inspiration and mentor for a generation of younger fishermen, teaching many of them the practical skills that had served him and his forebears well, whether in harbour or at sea. Out on the ocean waves, he was known to regale the crew with tales of his death-defying maritime scrapes during the war, while back on land, he could often be found leading a stirring sing along in the local, his booming bass voice lubricated by his favourite Woods Navy um (and honed through years of singing for the Peverell oad Chapel Choir). It’s in the pub that he’s thought to have gained the nickname ‘Taily’: displaying a knack for being in the right place at the right time, when it came time for the next round of drinks, Jack - empty glass thrust forward - would always manage to get in on the ‘tail-end’ of the shout...
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J ACK
( TA I LY )
LAITY
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J EF F
‘ P AT C H ’
J E F F ‘ PAT C H ’ OILS ON BOARD
Jeff is a bit of a mystery man who ‘blew in’ from another part of the country and, although people recognise and remember him, nobody seems to know where he came from or where he went when he left Porthleven. He was known to be a man who kept himself to himself but Jim, who could strike up a conversation with a Trappist monk, managed to win Jeff over...enough to be allowed to take his photograph!
48
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20/09/2021 15:35
J EF F
‘ P AT C H ’
49
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J O
HN STRIK E
50
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J O
J O H N
HN STRIK E
S T R I K E
P E N C I L D R AW I N G
1 8 , the title of the Nation’s Best Fishmonger, presented at the avoy Hotel.
Born in Porthleven where his grandfather was a fisherman, John initially worked as a teacher and furniture maker, before buying a boat to take anglers out wreck-and shark-fishing.
With this came the accolades of Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers and Freedom of the City of ondon.
After a few years, John decided that catching fish wasn’t for him, but selling fish might be a viable career move. Despite a tentative start travelling the length and breadth of the county with a load of mackerel in the back of his estate car, John’s success and reputation grew and grew, culminating in the establishment of a highly successful shop on Breageside, and in
His shop eventually moved across the harbour to Fore treet where he continued to sell really good fish to really nice people . John is now wife anessa.
happily
retired
with
his
51
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J O
SEP H ( J O
E)
RU SSELL
52
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24/09/2021 15:03
J O
SEP H ( J O
E)
RU SSELL
JOSEPH (JOE) RUSSELL P E N C I L D R AW I N G
Read Joe’s story on page 91.
53
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24/09/2021 15:03
HO
M
AGE TO
M
ANET’ S LE DEJ EU NER SU R L’ HERB E
H O M A G E T O M A N E T ’ S L E D E J E U N E R S U R L’ H E R B E OILS ON BOARD
A-level students from Helston School posed for this homage. Comments from Facebook group ‘I was a student at Helston School’
S.H.
He was my art teacher at Helston. Amazing artist. Inspired me to become an illustrator before I turned to games design.
N.L.
He was such a kind, warm-hearted, can-do kind of guy and I’m proud to say that he was my art teacher.
T.B.P.
One of the best art teachers at Helston School! I so enjoyed my lessons with him.
M.D.
Legend in his own lunchtime! We used to tease him mercilessly about keeping his lunch in his beard....
B.H.
Fabulous art teacher and a great character.
J.R.
Although he was a fantastic art teacher, I had him for RE, taught me a lot about what Confucious say...
S.M.
I used to love his art lessons and still use the methods he taught me today.
54
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20/09/2021 15:47
HO
M
AGE TO
M
ANET’ S LE DEJ EU NER SU R L’ HERB E
55
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20/09/2021 15:47
J O
SEP H ( J O
EY )
ALLEN
JOSEPH (JOEY) ALLEN 19 2 3
-
19 9 2
SINGLE PENCIL PORTRAIT & TRIPTYCH
e
e
e
e
e
e e
e
Joey was often seen driving around Porthleven on his espa, one foot trailing along the road (the result of a tuberculous hip he’d lived with from an early age). Despite his disability, Joey would take day-trippers out on his boat until one fateful day when he became lost at sea in heavy fog for 2 hours. As a young man, Joey was known to occasionally enjoy too many beers; at least once appearing in front of the magistrates, charged with rowdy behaviour! However, after his frightening experience at sea, it was noted that Joey was a changed man who never again drank alcohol and who would spontaneously commune with The ord, no matter when or where – even casting his moped aside and dropping to his knees in the street. A self-taught accordionist, he could be found on many a summer’s eve at the bottom of alt Cellar Hill playing and singing hymns with friends. And despite never learning to read or write, Joey had a knack for poetry, reciting his detailed poems about village life right off the top of his head.
56
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J O
SEP H ( J O
EY )
ALLEN
57
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K E N N E T H ( K A P I TA N K E N )
M
ILB U RN
K E N N E T H ( K A P I TA N K E N ) M I L B U R N OILS ON BOARD
Ken was born in East Yorkshire, in a little village called Burythorpe and came to live in Cornwall in 1946. He spent all his working life in the Merchant Navy and joined the Reardon Smith Shipping Company as 2nd O cer, eventually being promoted to Captain (hence the nickname!). Ken served as Porthleven Harbour Master from 1995 to 2000.
Ken’s story is told by his sister, Jean Richards.
58
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24/09/2021 15:08
K E N N E T H ( K A P I TA N K E N )
M
ILB U RN
59
XXX--ED--Artwork Spread--Ken Milburn--2.00v2.indd 2
24/09/2021 15:08
K IDS O
N HO
L I D AY
K I D S O N H O L I D AY OILS ON BOARD
6 0
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K IDS O
N HO
L I D AY
6 1
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M
ISS M
AY
W
AT E R S
M I S S M AY WAT E R S OILS ON BOARD
May shared a rear courtyard with the Tinleys and loved to pop her favourite mint humbug sweeties into the little Tinley boys’ mouths, explaining to their very concerned mother that, “they [the humbugs] warm their blood up lovely!” One day, when Stanley Richards the coalman arrived with a bag of coal on his back, he found a pair of May’s baggy bloomers on the washing line obstructing his access to her coal bunker. He called out: “Wad ee want May, ‘alf ‘undred weight down each leg?”
6 2
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M
ISS M
AY
W
AT E R S
6 3
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M
U RIEL W
ILLIAM
S
MURIEL WILLIAMS O I L S O N B O A R D – U N F I N I S H E D PA I N T I N G
Muriel was a very sweet lady who was proprietor of the bijou Serpentine and Bric-a-Brac shop on Breageside, opposite the Fishermen’s Quay. In this tiny space, Muriel tumbled and polished beautifully coloured stones which she usually ended up giving away, especially to children! This little industry was surrounded by some of the most exquisite and unusual collectibles which could keep a visitor absorbed for an hour or more, whilst all the time Muriel would animatedly chatter away in her distinctly refined accent.
6 4
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M
U RIEL W
ILLIAM
S
6 5
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CLIF F O
RD ‘ K IP P ER’ RICHARDS
6 6
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CLIF F O
RD ‘ K IP P ER’ RICHARDS
C L I F F O R D ‘ K I P P E R ’ R I C H A R D S 19 2 8
-
19 9 3
OILS ON BOARD
B
ipper loved to have a pint in the local pubs, rattling off yarns for visitors like a true yokel, and often bursting into song. Porthleven was his home and his life.
orn in Porthleven, Clifford ichards was given the nickname ‘ ipper’ when he was five years old. When asked by his playmate uy ibson what his name was, uy thought he had said ‘ ipper’ because Clifford pronounced his ‘F’s as ‘P’s!
As told by Kipper’s sons, Timmy ‘Kipper’ Richards and Philip ‘Kipper’ Richards, with words written by Timmy Kip.
As a young man, along with other lads from the village, ipper served on navy minesweepers to clear up mines around the east coast. After this, he tried fishing and farming, before settling on an apprenticeship in building, which he did for the rest of his working life, becoming a Cornish mason ( aster Builder). This picture shows him pointing the wall he built on Porthleven harbourside.
* uy Penrose ibson: some years after this encounter with the young ipper, uy became a decorated AF pilot in the econd World War, leading the Dam Busters raid in 1 . He would often spend school holidays with his grandparents in Porthleven, mixing in with the local boys.
6 7
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O
N RINSEY
B EACH
ON RINSEY BEACH OILS ON BOARD
6 8
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O
N RINSEY
B EACH
6 9
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20/09/2021 16:00
P U B
LU NCH IN LO
NDO
N
PUB LUNCH IN LONDON OILS ON BOARD
7 0
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P U B
LU NCH IN LO
NDO
N
7 1
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RO
B ERT ( B O
B )
SM
ITH
ROBERT (BOB) SMITH 19 18
-
2 0 0 2
OILS ON BOARD
Bob was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire and joined the Merchant Navy. At the age of 18, he became Deck Boy/Assistant Bosun aboard the SS Mopan which was sunk in 1940, and he was taken prisoner of war. He subsequently escaped from POW camps three times, the first two times being given up by French collaborators. On his third attempt, the war came to an end and Bob was able to return home where he immediately joined another ship, the Highland Princess. It was while docked in Hull that Bob met Lilly. They eloped and married and went on a mystery bus tour which took them to Cornwall. They got off the bus in Porthleven and decided to settle...and this was where Robert Jr. was born, and still lives.
Bob’s story is told by his son, Mr Robert Smith Jr.
7 2
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RO
B ERT ( B O
B )
SM
ITH
7 3
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RO
DNEY
CHARLES J EF F ERY
RODNEY CHARLES JEFFERY LEWIN 19 43 -
LEW
IN
19 9 9
OILS ON BOARD
“A colourful character, with a very outgoing personality; charming and outrageous in turn!” Rod grew up in Weston–super–Mare where, as a schoolboy, he was noted for his sporting prowess and his distinctive mode of attire which took him into adult life, until the birth of his first child which prompted him to complete a university education. His individuality and gusto in artistic and sporting tastes, especially golf, followed him throughout his life but unfortunately, he stalled at the 19th hole and he spent a happy but sadly, short-lived retirement in his beloved Porthleven.
Rod’s story is told by Sandy Kelynack.
7 4
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20/09/2021 16:08
RO
DNEY
CHARLES J EF F ERY
LEW
IN
7 5
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RO
N N I E B R AY
R O N N I E B R AY OILS ON BOARD
Generally known as a genial and quiet giant (that you didn’t mess with!) onnie, like his dad Alfie and his brother Joe, was a plumber who could inventively improvise with the most unlikely materials, saving his customers lots of money, which made him very popular and much in demand! He was known to enjoy a few bottles of Worthington White hield which he poured steadily into the glass, to sip and savour as he studied the horses in the Harbour Inn. adly, as he became older and despite family members offering him a place to live, onnie died homeless and alone. onnie is pictured here with andy be read on page 80.
unro (right), whose story can
7 6
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RO
N N I E B R AY
7 7
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T H E C A R D P L AY E R S
7 8
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T H E C A R D P L AY E R S
T H E
C A R D
P L AY E R S
P E N C I L D R AW I N G
T O M M Y H E N RY S A M P S O N J E W E L L
T O M M Y PA S C O E
Facing
With his back to us
Tommy am was born in Porthleven, left school at the age of 14 to work in Rosewarne’s garage and trained to be a motor mechanic and coach driver.
Read Tommy’s story on page 41. WILLIAM CHARLES (CHARLIE) SEARLE
Left On one occasion he drove a full coach load on a day trip to Plymouth. When counting his passengers back on board he declared “We’re all here, bar one”...he’d forgotten to include himself! From then on, his nickname was ‘Bar One’.
Charlie was born in Porthleven. He was four years old when his mother died, leaving five children who were split between family members. Charlie went to live with an aunt at Green Lane Farm, leaving school at the age of 13 to work on the farm.
He enrolled in the Royal Ordnance Army Corps in March 1939 and was sent to France to maintain tanks. He then suffered tuberculosis and was sent home for discharge in 1941.
He sold fruit, veg and eggs from the back of a pony drawn trap to local neighbours, whilst working on various local farms. Eventually, Charlie worked for Harvey & Co., where his main job was to empty the coal boats that visited the harbour.
Once home, Tommy am became a fisherman and skippered the Maggie Ann and the Girl Sybil (PZ 595). He had a lovely tenor voice and enjoyed singing in the Peverell Road Chapel Choir and the Fishermen’s Choir.
Charlie continued to ride his pushbike well into his 0s, often in the middle of the road with a stream of cars behind him! With his trilby hat and friendly smile, he was a familiar and wellloved character. He loved to play cards in the Fishermen’s shelter on the harbour head.
Tommy’s story is told by his daughter, Beth Bray.
Charlie’s story is told by his nieces Sonia, Ann and Dawn Sjoholm.
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SANDY
M
U NRO
SANDY MUNRO OILS ON BOARD
Sandy was born in Mallaig, Inverness. He met his Cornish wife Stella, when she was staying with her family while her father was working there. andy joined the Army as a taff ergeant. During this time, he travelled to Africa and Cyprus and spent time at the War O ce in ondon. After the war, he settled in Porthleven with his family in Torleven Cottage. He first worked as a coastguard and then was at Culdrose. The artist always enjoyed andy’s company in the Harbour Inn, especially appreciating his quick wit and humour. Sandy also appears on page 77, alongside Ronnie Bray.
Sandy’s story is told by his granddaughter, Vicky Williams.
8 0
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SANDY
M
U NRO
8 1
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TINLEY BOYS
J A C O B J I M Above L U K E O N R I N S E Y B E A C H Right TINLEY BOYS – LUKE, JOSEPH A N D J A C O B I N T H E G A R D E N Far Right P E N C I L D R AW I N G & O I L O N C A N VA S
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TINLEY BOYS
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W
ILLIAM
( W
I L LY )
B ARTLETT
W I L L I A M ( W I L LY ) B A R T L E T T P E N C I L D R AW I N G
William Bartlett was born in Falmouth in 1913 but moved to live in Constantine when he married Phyllis. He worked as a police constable in Falmouth shipyard during the Second World War, but his main passion was working with granite and stones. He worked in and around quarries, eventually becoming a monumental stonemason. Willy was a aster Craftsman, who poured his heart and soul into creating some very special work which can be seen in many a Cornish graveyard. He worked in Porthleven with Jack Ching, another great craftsman. Willy was a lovely, gentle Cornishman with a great sense of humour. He adored his beloved granddaughter Trudie, to bits!
Willy’s story is told by his daughter in law, Sandy Bartlett.
8 4
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W
ILLIAM
( W
I L LY )
B ARTLETT
8 5
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W
ILLIAM
EW
ART RO
GERS
W I L L I A M E WA RT R O G E R S 1 9 0 4 -
19 9 4
OILS ON BOARD
William wart ogers was the fifth of seven children. Fondly known to many as wart, some even called him oger, he was born to William John and avinia Jane ogers in Helston in 1 0 . wart’s father William worked in the gold mines in acramento, California, and died there in 1 . When wart’s mother died, he moved to Porthleven to live with his sister iolet and her husband, eorge ilbert. Outliving both iolet and eorge, wart remained in Porthleven until he passed away in 1 .
Ewart’s story is told by his niece, Mrs Angela Mitchell.
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W
ILLIAM
EW
ART RO
GERS
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THE ISB ELL F AM
I LY , P R A A S A N D S
T H E I S B E L L F A M I LY, P R A A S A N D S OILS ON BOARD
8 8
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THE ISB ELL F AM
I LY , P R A A S A N D S
8 9
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M
EN O
N S A LT C E L L A R H I L L
9 0
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M
S A LT
EN O
N S A LT C E L L A R H I L L
M E N O N C E L L A R
MAURICE JAMES
H I L L
LEONARD AND JOE RUSSELL
First from left
eft
As a young man, Maurice James became a carpenter, going into partnership with Godfrey Toy in Helston until 1 0, after which he crewed on crabbers. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Maurice had his own boat, The Inter Nos, which he used for taking visitors out on fishing trips.
These Russell boys were two of eight siblings. Their parents bought the large family house in Unity Road which they’d been renting from the Penrose estate, and all eight siblings attended the nearby Board School. Leonard, Joe and their brothers Arthur and tanley fished together for several years on the family boat, The Biddy PZ121 until Leonard bought his own boat, Ocean Reaper PZ165. They were all very well known and respected fishermen around the Cornish coast. (Thanks to Mr Billy Russell for the above account).
Maurice and his wife Marjorie also ran a popular and well-stocked haberdashery shop in the village. Maurice sang with various choirs and even formed a singing group called The Harmonies, which might have explained the rather natty red velvet jacket he liked to wear, perhaps to give him the showbiz look?
JOE TOY
eft
As for the picture you see here, Jim tells of a slightly disgruntled aurice who, on his first viewing of the painting, declared his hair too grey and demanded Jim make it ‘blacker’!
Joe and his twin sister, Margret Lowena were born in Porthleven in 1921 to Ernie and Mary Toy (Searle). During the Second World War, Joe served as a fireman at Falmouth Docks and later married Gwenda and had one son, Oliver. After the war, Joe worked for some years as a farm labourer for Mr Trewella, and then worked for the council until retirement. (Thanks to Mr Oliver Toy for the above account).
Jim charitably obliged, which should have been the end of the matter. However, when a mischievous friend of Maurice commented that he looked as though he’d ‘had a run-in with the Grecian 2000’, Maurice hurried back to Jim’s studio and announced that now, Jim had made his hair too black! Jim suggested he should perhaps return to the original shading on the painting? To which Maurice grudgingly agreed.
E D WA R D ‘ N I C K Y N I C K ’ W I L L I A M S
Standing Edward was Porthleven-born and a gentle and well-liked man. He was a fisherman and a leader in the Peverell Road Bryonite chapel. While he was known as Nicky Nick, there is no one now alive that can shed light on the origin of his nickname.
And with that, Jim was able to finish the piece, complete with Maurice-approved hair colouring.
9 1
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24/09/2021 16:10
W
W I L LY
I L LY
STEV ENS
STEVENS
OILS ON BOARD
Willy farmed Wheal Dream Farm out on the Redruth road, but lived with his sister in nearby Trannack. The farmhouse was right on the road and was particularly noticeable by the lack of glass in the windows, instead replaced by hessian sacking. People assumed Willy lived in the house and it was rumoured that he kept his carthorse, a couple of cows and some chickens in there with him. In fact, one story told of a cow that actually fell through the floor! However, further enquiries revealed the far less romantic truth that a local animal food supplier delivered regularly to the farm and apparently, the animals were kept in proper outhouses. Jim often remarked that he would love to paint Willy, who we often saw wearing his sacking apron (a towzer), using a hand-held hook to cut the grass on the roadside verges. So, one day, seeing Willy leaning on the fence, we pulled over and Jim went over to ask if he could photograph him. Willy, barely glancing at him and ga ing off into the distance, answered: ou do what you’ve a mind to, boy.” Here you see the end product.
Story supplied by Susan Tinley.
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W
I L LY
STEV ENS
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A C K NOW
T H A N K S
–
LED G
T H E
EM
ENTS
E X H I B I T I O N
Sincere apologies to anyone who may have been omitted.
David Mitchell (and Fore Street Methodist Chapel) – for the procurement and loan of tables and chairs.
Mike Carter – for the loan of archive photos for display. Clive Christophers – for chunky window security bars that doubled-up as bicep developers!
Trevor Osborne – for the generous loan of the best exhibition space in the west! Julie Peacock – for organising the preview refreshments.
Sally Cole – for your constant support, artistic expertise and loving friendship. All valued more than you will ever know!
Gary Shainberg – for installing security cameras inside and out. Knowing they were there helped me sleep at night.
Greg Cross (and the National Trust) – for the loan of parking barriers.
Sian of the Succulents – your beautiful plants gave the whole exhibition a touch of class.
Chris Doyle – our in-house Sparky. For rigging up the BEST lighting system and for teaching me the mantra, ‘It’s all do-able’.
Ann and Dawn Sjoholm – for your artistic advice, hessian covers and exhibition hanging.
Steve Dyer – for cleaning and making legible the wording on the commemorative plaque outside the warehouse.
Suzie Williams – another great artistic advisor and exhibition hanger!
Spencer Hawes – your ‘Jim’ biography board was so fabulous, you made it twice!
John Winterton – not just a great framer, but one that does emergency house calls as well!
Roger Hosking – your wonderful DVD featuring real live footage including many of Jim’s subjects, created a truly unforgettable experience.
The Sitters – a very big thank you to all those people who gave their time to sit-in on the exhibition...let’s have a book launch party! Finally – my love, respect and admiration goes out to our children and their partners who have supported me tirelessly and unstintingly throughout this whole challenging, exciting and fulfilling journey.
Marg and Brian Lawton – for ‘humping’ around exhibits and furniture in your camper van, for dog-sitting and exhibition hanging. Martin Matthews – for supplying a history of the Warehouse and old ‘Jim’ photos for display.
We are so proud of you all.
Shane McGroggan – for framing and for the loan of a dehumidifier.
T H A N K S
–
T H E
B O O K
Suz Inman – for sifting through the mysteries and complexities of Crowdfunding!
Hannabeth Johnson – without whom, the very idea of producing a book would never have occurred to me! Many thanks for your constant support throughout.
The Ocean Agency – for your patient encouragement and for making sense of my sometimes confusing contributions.
Sam and Chloe Naylor – for the production of the brilliant promotional film and for the clever editing-out of my tongue tied moments!
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EX HIB ITIO
N LO
ANS
E X H I B I T I O N
L O A N S
EXHIBIT
LOANED BY
Page 14 – 4 Ladies and a Little Girl
Mr & Mrs J. Hendy
Page 22 – Brenda Downing
Mr. K. Downing & Family
Page 34 – Catherine Williams
Mr & Mrs M. Matthews
Page 42 – Fred Lavin Matthews
Ms A. Williams
Page 44 – Fred (Uncle John) Orchard
Mr & Mrs R. Hosking
Page 46 – Jack (Taily) Laity Mr & Mrs L. Norman
AND
Page 82 – Tinley Boys - Luke, Joseph and Jacob in the Garden Page 50 – John Strike
Mr & Mrs J. Strike
Page 56 – Joseph (Joey) Allen - Pencil Portrait
Mr & Mrs P. Kelly
Page 56 – Joseph (Joey) Allen - Triptych
Dr. & Mrs. B. Lawton
Page 58 – Kenneth Milburn Ms. S. Kelynack
AND
Page 74 –
odney Charles Jeffery ewin
Page 60 – Kids on Holiday
Mr & Mrs C. Simmons
Page 62 – Miss May Waters Page 66 – Clifford ‘ ipper’
Mr & Mrs H. Moyle ichards
rs. J.
ichards
Page 78 – The Card Players - Pencil Drawing
Mr. & Mrs A. Bray
Page 84 – William (Willy) Bartlett
Mrs. S. Bartlett
Page 86 – William Ewart Rogers
Mr & Mrs D. Mitchell
Page 88 – The Isbell Family, Praa Sands
Mr R. Isbell
Page 90 – Men on Salt Cellar Hill Mr & Mrs W. Russell
AND
Page 53 – Joseph (Joe) Russell
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C OM
M
ENTS BOOK
C O M M E N T S
B O O K
F R O M T H E E X H I B I T I O N AT B R E A G E S I D E WA R E H O U S E
Jim was a master at drawing hands and you can recognise his subjects by just looking at the hands in the artwork... These paintings and drawings evoke a great sense of community and friendship. Thank you, it was wonderful to stumble across this! What memories of the old Porthleveners...tears in my eyes. How emotional to see all the beautiful work of my art teacher. An important record of local history, done with compassion and skill. Fabulous exhibition – wonderful to see the dear characters I remember from when I was a little girl... Visiting from Ipswich – so glad to have had the opportunity to see an incredible collection of work. Jim was my first art teacher, not only did he bring art alive he told a story. His love for Porthleven resonates with everyone who is fortunate enough to experience both his art and this wonderful village! Incredible artist and incredible art. I hadn’t been able to appreciate Jim’s art till now...I’m proud to have had him as my grandfather...this exhibition is a great tribute. Simeon Tinley.
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EU LOG
Y
E U L O G Y We are atbags of the first order and have known each other as such for nearly 50 years. We belong to the Great Order of Ratbags. Amongst ourselves it is considered more of a compliment than an insult. It made it rather personal and special to belong to this institution of no fixed abode or even constitution, yet we always knew who we were and who we were talking to! Jim was my unsung hero, he was an extremely skilful artist, his work was unusual and striking. I loved his sense of humour. From one Ratbag to another, God bless you Jim and thank you.”
JOHN LEACH
Muchelney Pottery
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PUBLISHED BY
Holbrook, The Moors, Por thleven, Cornwall TR13 9JX w w w.t h e o c e a n a g e n c y. c o . u k
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