Wand Gallery

Clowning about... The circus came to town yesterday, at least it seemed so when clowns

Clowning about... The circus came to town yesterday, at least it seemed so when clowns, tightrope walkers and flying trapeze artists turned up at Colne Valley High School. But they were, in fact, children in disguise for a circus day. Some 100 youngsters took part, and Rowena Smith (left) is seen casting a spell on some of them. They are (from left) Lyndsey Scarhill, Vicky Secker, Heather Owen and Louise Foley. Two real circus acts also attended the event organized by Linthwaithe Summer play scheme. Pat Birch, from Bradford, and her performing dogs entertained the children and Pickles the clown made an appearance.
7th August 1985

© Mirrorpix

Devil and fairy, Christmas card, 1952. Creator: Shirley Markham

Devil and fairy, Christmas card, 1952. Design for a card with pantomime characters. Shirley Markham (1931-1999) studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central School of Art in London from 1950-1952. The writer, artist, poet, and illustrator Mervyn Peake (1911-1968) was one of her tutors, and her style of drawing was also influenced by other British illustrators such as Edward Ardizzone, Quentin Blake and Edward Bawden. Markham spent time in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy, and also visited Rome, sketching classical buildings. After graduating from Central, she worked as a graphic designer, producing book illustrations, cartoons for comics, menus and programmes. She gave up her promising career however when she got married in 1957. Middle-class women at that time were expected to devote their energies to bringing up children and running the home, and despite her obvious talent, she lacked the confidence to return to illustration. Her portfolio remained in the family attic for many years, but now her work is published here for the first time

© Shirley Markham Collection / Heritage-Images

Dignitaries of the Church officiating at the 1953 Coronation

Leading churchmen who played a part in the Coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953. Top left is Dr Garbett, Archbishop of York, whose role was to support the Archbishop of Canterbury, top right is Dr Wand, Bishop of London who carried the paten, bottom right, Dr A. M. Ramsey, Bishop of Durham and bottom left, Dr H. W Bradfield, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, both of whom had the role of supporting the Queen. Date: 1953

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10579039