BILL PEASCOD. PEAKS AND PAINTINGS
Date Posted: 16th May 2019
I am just preparing a talk about Bill Peascod;- Maryport miner, climber and painter which I will present at the Settlement Maryport 23rd May at 7.00. (doors open at 6.30). £5 entry which goes to the Settlement Restoration fund
I will be talking about Bill’s life and work as well as my own experiences tracking him across the world; Maryport, Bassenthwate, Australia and Japan. I mounted a memorial exhibition in 1989 at Castlegate House opened by Melvyn Bragg, sponsored by The Coal Board and attended by Lord Glaramara and Chris Bonington as well as all the great names in climbing at the time. This was followed in 1996 with a spectacular retrospective exhibition at the gallery.
I will be showing a film partly made up of bits of Channel 4’s Lakeland Rock when Bill and Chris Bonington recreated Bill’s first climb of Eagle Front in Buttermere a year before he died alongside film footage from Australia and Japan where he was acclaimed as a painter of some standing. I will be bringing one of my Peascod paintings and invite others lucky enough to own one to do the same if they wish.
I will also be showing images of his life, his climbs (many which he pioneered and named in the 50s) and his paintings – some of the climbers at the talk may recognise themselves or people they have known. There will be an Open Mike after the talk for people to share their memories of this lovable, remarkable man.
It promises to be a very special evening. His paintings are very emotional. Come along and see. I will show the last photograph taken of Bill happily climbing in North Wales with Don Whillans just minutes before he died of a massive heart attack aged 65.
chris
*Don’t forget FAMILY DAY AT THE Pencil Museum in Keswick on Sunday 2.00 – 4.00 when we will look at the life of - Percy Kelly - another outstanding West Cumbrian and see some of his gorgeous illustrated letters. Jen will be demonstrating some of the Derwent products and materials and help you make your own special letter or envelope if you wish.
** The 2 new Kelly greetings cards are going down a storm. I have posted packs out to the US and Norway as well as much of the UK. (see them on www.percykelly.co.uk/merchandise and in my previous newsletter..) You can also buy them and all the books at the museum in Keswick.