The Harwich Society is delighted to receive a painting by the famous East Anglian artist, Leonard Squirrell, prior to a collection of his work being sold at auction.
The collection of paintings by Leonard Squirrell, who lived in Ipswich and who painted throughout East Anglia during the 20th century, includes three paintings produced in Harwich and the four sisters who own the collection have very generously donated one of the three to the Harwich Society. To this end, Judith Abbott and her husband, Roger, brought the three paintings to Harwich last week to allow the Harwich Society trustees’ to choose which of the three paintings the Society would like.
The three paintings, all produced in the late 1940s, were a scene of Church Street featuring Saint Nicholas church, a view of Harwich Quay painted from Trinity Pier and a very unusual view of the Treadwheel Crane with the church in the background showing the crane in very poor repair and with its jib laying on the ground. It was a very difficult decision for the trustees to make as all three were remarkable pieces of art but the trustees eventually chose the painting of the Treadwheel Crane.
Harwich Society chairman, Andy Schooler, says, “The Harwich Society is immensely grateful to Judith and her sisters for this remarkable act of generosity which brings this important artwork back to Harwich. It is a wonderful painting painted in 1947 and the Harwich Society is both thrilled and proud to take ownership of it so that it can be displayed in Foresters, the Harwich Society’s headquarters.”
Judith Abbott’s grandparents, Oliver and Evelyn Dingley, lived in Fronks Road and their collection of Leonard Squirrell paintings has been passed down through the family and is now owned by Judith Abbott and her three sisters. They wish the paintings to return to East Anglia and, whilst the majority will go to auction, the donation of one of the three Harwich scenes to the Harwich Society is part of this process.
Judith Abbott says, “It was a great pleasure to meet some of the dedicated volunteers of the Harwich Society and to know that the painting will be appreciated and well cared-for at Foresters. My sisters and I are also very happy that the painting has come home at the time of the 85th Anniversary of the Evacuation of the schools, which included both of our parents and our Aunt as children.”
For further information please contact:
Press Officer, Garry Calver on 01255 551940
