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Re: Horsham 1954-62

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 11:53 pm
by eucsgmrc
I've been adding a few more photos - mostly of Speech Day ceremonial - and I'd like an opinion about this one from 1961[?]: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jandsw/14 ... 6099253537

Hidden behind the mace and sword bearers are, I imagine, the Lord Mayor and Mrs Mayor, but beside them, and clearly visible, is somebody wearing a fancy grade of academic gown with a vaguely familiar face. Could that be Barnes Wallis?

Re: Horsham 1954-62

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2014 8:48 am
by sejintenej
eucsgmrc wrote:I've been adding a few more photos - mostly of Speech Day ceremonial - and I'd like an opinion about this one from 1961[?]: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jandsw/14 ... 6099253537

Hidden behind the mace and sword bearers are, I imagine, the Lord Mayor and Mrs Mayor, but beside them, and clearly visible, is somebody wearing a fancy grade of academic gown with a vaguely familiar face. Could that be Barnes Wallis?
Good guess; try this one for comparison
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/arts/yourpainti ... _large.jpg
Note the medal over his throat; they don't come with corn flakes

http://www.thedambusters.org.uk/images/wallis.jpg

and lastly
http://lowres-picturecabinet.com.s3-eu- ... /90352.jpg

Re: Horsham 1954-62

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2014 9:29 am
by Katharine
What is the gown he is wearing?

I agree that it is the Barnes Wallis that I remember seeing at Hertford. I can't remember whether we had a portrait of him in the school or not.

Re: Horsham 1954-62

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2014 1:20 pm
by J.R.
Katharine wrote:What is the gown he is wearing?

I agree that it is the Barnes Wallis that I remember seeing at Hertford. I can't remember whether we had a portrait of him in the school or not.

Having met and spoken to the great man twice, I can definitely confirm it is Sir Barnes Wallis.

I have a feeling there IS a portrait of him at Horsham, possibly in the dining hall.

Re: Horsham 1954-62

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2014 2:07 pm
by sejintenej
J.R. wrote: Having met and spoken to the great man twice, I can definitely confirm it is Sir Barnes Wallis.

I have a feeling there IS a portrait of him at Horsham, possibly in the dining hall.
Agreed.
CH has had an inordinate number of distinguished OBs in every field of endeavour including a conductor and some climbers mentioned herein in the past year. One could also mention the like"s of ST Coleridge, C Lamb, CV le Grice etc. ad infinitum. How unfortunate that only the one person has his/her portrait hung at the school; it should be accompanied by a memorial to the others. It needn't be an original - photo (perhaps of a portrait) could be enough to mark their place in history...

Re: Horsham 1954-62

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:09 am
by Fjgrogan
I vaguely remember a portrait of Barnes Wallis at Hertford. Also I believe that Miss West's portrait was actually a photo, or possibly a portrait painted from a photo (not unusual, I think), but the rumour was that she didn't have the patience to actually sit for a portrait to be painted. Given the preponderance of male OBs thus portrayed, perhaps we should balance the genders a bit - how about a portrait of Baroness Deech (Ruth Fraenkel, as was)? I am sure there are others worthy of the honour, but Ruth springs to mind because she is within living memory and is still available - also she takes a pretty good photo!