| The World of Pete's Art & Poetry Background Sound: CLOTHES? Updated 19th FEBRUARY 2007 |
| Back in the sixties, Pete became noted for his detailed scraper-board drawings on the front of The Gardeners Chronicle. Above & right are some examples of his work... |
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| In the seventies, Pete developed a pen-and-ink technique, using dots. Then in the Eighties, he developed a style of painting using chilldren's felt-tip pens: See example, Buttercup, left... |
| The Wedding of The Year It was the wedding of the year, complete with blushing bride, with the best man all the worse for drink, the groom staggering at his side. The Father of the Bride was there, complete with three-piece suit, looking, for all the world to see, just like a well-dressed newt! Mrs McFee, next-door-but-one, stood on the corner to see the fun, whilst Mrs. Riley from the corner shop, said she's stopped by, but couldn't stop. Uncle Bert and Aunty Flo came along to see the show, with Cousin Eric and Uncle Lou, and Aunty Rene, with all her crew. Uncle Charlie brought along his pets- two whippets, famed for winning bets. Johnny, the son of Cousin Rick, was wondering what to do with his ice-lolly stick. But the fun really started when Uncle Jack fell over a whippet, landing on his back, knocking over Johnny, who stuck his lolly stick into Uncle Lou. Well, - Uncle Lou leapt forward and, knocked the cream cakes from Rene's hand, sending them flying through the air, to land with a splat in the bridesmaid's hair. Meanwhile, the dog continued its retreat, running between the photographer's feet. who fell upon his tripod, which stripped the bride to the very last stitch! The bride, standing in her underwear, tried to place her boquet, but she didn't know where! She looked around for a place to hide- now she really was a blushing bride! The best man couldn't help but grin, so the bridegroom punched him on the chin! This started a fight, and, amidst all the din, the father-of-the-bride said 'may the best man win!' Mrs. Riley and Mrs.McFee decided they'd seen all they wanted to see, and, patting the dog that was Charlie's pet, decided it was a wedding they'd never forget! *First published in the POETRY TODAY anthology, WINDOWS OF THE SOUL in 1977 One of a whole series about this dysfunctional family...watch for more... |
| One of a series of Pete's poems about a dysfunctional family... |
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| OPERATION: FIND PETE'S DRAWINGS |
| Over the years, Pete's drawings have been sold, or given away, like the one (above left) of Burford Lodge, Hitchin, which was presented to Howard Farrow the building magnate by Pete in 1966. We'd like you to help us to track them down... |
| One, (below left) has been found by Frank Swaine at 'The Ramblers Rest' in Castleton, Derbyshire. 'Offley Garden Gates' in the bottom R/H corner is somewhere at Offley Place...but where are the others? The pictures below show the actual drawing in close-up, and the situation in which it is displayed in |
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| the main dining room of the popular Castleton Guest House. The picture of the Old Garden Gates at Offley was made in 1966, and presented to the Head of the college at the time, Miss Fraser. The others shown here were sold in an art shop in Kent in the sixties... |
| Listen to Pete's classic poem - CLOTHES? |