St Ives Memory Bay

Brian Stevens, describes changes in St Ives

simbauthor — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:25:55 +0000

Brian Stevens, life long St Ives resident and Director of the St Ives Museum talks about the changes he has seen in the town.

John Bedding, a Leach potter

simbauthor — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:20:55 +0000

John Beddding came from London and eventually worked at the Leach Pottery. He gives a vivid description of the pottery as a ‘factory’ with a clear description of the kilns in action.

Margaret Reed remembers Bernard Leach

simbeditor — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:27:44 +0000

Margaret Reed shares her memories of the Leach family. Brought up in the cottage behind the pottery she played with the Leach children and reminisces about the Pottery in the 1940’s.

Eric Curnow, remembers St Ives

simbeditor — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:19:38 +0000

Eric Curnow was brought up in the family outfitters shop in Fore Street . Although leaving St Ives to follow a career he eventually returned to run the busines and became an important member of the Lifeboat service. Here he remembers what St Ives was like in his youth.

Willie James, remembering Ben Nicholson

simbeditor — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:20:15 +0000

Willie James, born in the town, served his time as a carpenter and after the war worked for Robin Nance, a bespoke furniture maker with a workshop on the harbour. Willie made frames for many of the artists, plinths for Barbara Hepworth and remembers Nance’s workshop as a place many of the artists visited. Here he describes in detail the construction of a frame for a Ben Nicholson painting later identified as “October 1949 (Rangitane-curved panel)”. Nicholson was commissioned to make two concave panels for the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamship: Rangitane. The panel was made of oil tempered board. The photo is of the paintings in Nicholsons’ studio at Porthmeor.

George Farrell talks about Alfred Wallis

simbeditor — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:17:13 +0000

George Farrell is a step grandson of Alfred Wallis and talks about the old man and his paintings.

Roy Ray, artist.

simbeditor — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:12:50 +0000

Roy Ray, artist and teacher was in charge of the St Ives School of Painting for many years. He is well known for his own works and knew many of the people who worked in the town over the last 40 years.

Jane Mitchell, widow of Dennis and St Ives born & bred

simbeditor — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:12:03 +0000

Jane Mitchell, interviewed aged 101 shared memories of St Ives and the artists she knew. Her contact with Nicholson and Hepworth was through her husband, Dennis Mitchell the sculptor, who worked with and for Barbara Hepworth.

Andrew Marshall, potter and son of Bill Marshall.

simbeditor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:30:28 +0000

Andrew Marshall reflects on his dad’s contribution to the Leach pottery. Bill was a local lad who took up the opportunity of an apprenticeship with Bernard Leach and went on to become a great potter in his own right as well as Mr Leach’s righthand man. As Bernard Leach aged and became increasingly infirm Bill was also his hands and eyes.