Weather cold and wet, but determined to go over to Rushbury’s as I had decided to do so. Cycled by way of Langham, and called at the ancient Priory Farm, on the North side of the Black Brook valley, now a gaunt ruin. The timber framing shows it to have been a fine house, of a most interesting plan, a main hall with side aisles. Three men were ferreting at the back of it. I think one of them was young Halsall.
Got over to Rushbury’s in the dry. He [Sir Henry Rushbury] was rather too pompous for my liking today. Talked of going to York next week, doing official paintings for the War Office. Promised to bring back a full report of York Museum.
No interesting talk, just a lot of hot air. He is very critical of the Government but so is almost everybody. Cycled back by 6.30, and went on duty at 8 o’clock.
A selection of Sir Henry Rushbury's wartime paintings can be viewed in the collections of the Imperial War Museum. His visit to York in 1942 led him to depict a wartime street scene in Stonegate which has recently been exhibited at York Art Gallery.
2 comments:
Catherine, what an interesting entry. Rudsdale comment on what Sir Henry Rushbury had to say
"He is very critical of the Government but so is almost everybody."
Rudsdale clearly encounters a range of people (some more involved in war work than others, and different social classes), but once again we have a view of WWII that contrasts with the one we tend to get.
Mike Dennis
Thanks for your comment, Mike. I think this entry provides useful evidence of people's reactions at this critical juncture of the war when the likelihood of a prolonged war had become evident. CP
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