George Todd hanging

George Todd a pacifist artist worked at Holton Beckering Lincolnshire on the land of the power farmers in the early 50s

Linen place mats by George Todd

the cockerel could be Lurcat its true

Why is he referred to as a pacifist artist please?

xx

my parents knew him , they were pacifists as well, maybe the" power farmers" were pacifist farmers I just put it in as it might help research

tenpot wrote:my parents knew him , they were pacifists as well, maybe the" power farmers" were pacifist farmers I just put it in as it might help research

Thanks tenpot. Were they pacifists, as in conscientious objectors?

xx

yes some were Quakers

Ah, I get it now

xx

George Todd went to Sheffield School of Art from about 1936-40 and then I think began the Course at the Royal Collage of Art but had to leave after call up. He was a pacifist and along with Peter Hancocks who was a painter [and also a pacifist and had attended Sheffield School of Art 36-40 then the RCA untill call up in his second year] they went on the run together, at one time living in a chicken hut in Derbyshire, owened by a pacifist farmer, here they were stoned by the local youth.
Eventually they ended up in Lincolnshire where they lived on a pacifist community farm Blesbey Grange at the village of Legsby there was another pacifist farm near by at Holton cum Beckering [Billy Brag made a radio 4 program about them]Joan Lock printmaker also Sheffield 1936-40 RCA 40-43 joined the community after finishing her course. She subsequently married Peter Hancocks and George Todd was one of their witnesses they dinned after on Woodcock.
Peter Todd Georges brother also Sheffield then RCA painter was in the RAF gunner or navigator on bombers, completed his course after the war and became head of Grimsby School of Art where George was to teach Fabric Design, Peter Hancocks Painting and Joan Lock Printmaking.
At one point around late 50s early 60s George taught at the new university of Lagos in Nigeria and it was there that he caught Bilhazsia which at that time was incurable. He returned to Lincolnshire where he continued to teach at Grimsby School of Art and live and work in his very distinct house in Holton cum Beckering Finally in I think 1972 he died of complications from the Bilhazia [he was said to be the longest known survivor.
I think Edward Borden could have been an influence on the cockerel

Wow, thanks ZIGZ very interesting and welcome to the forum

xx

thanks for all that ZIGZ my mother will be fascinated we were in Nigeria in the 50s

ZIGZ wrote:George Todd went to Sheffield School of Art [...] and became head of Grimsby School of Art

Eerie - I attended both of those institutions.

tenpot wrote:thanks for all that ZIGZ my mother will be fascinated we were in Nigeria in the 50s

My niece lives there now! (In Lagos)

Carolyn