4th January 1942

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:

Anonymous said...

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

E J Rudsdale said...

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