BLOGG SPOT  ISSUE 10 April 26th 2008.       April 25th this week marks Anzac Day in New Zealand and Australia when we remember those who gave their lives in world encounters so we can enjoy the freedom we fortunately still enjoy today.  Its a static holiday with many attending the dawn parades and services both old and young.

For several decades those who served in Vietnam have never received the recognition they should have nor compensation for exposure to agent orange , but finally it seems to be happening-at least for those still with us. The same was evident here with the RSA (Returned Services Association) when I first went to join several decades ago saying the Merchant Navy was not recognised by them .

I was upset, as it was the Merchant Navy that held it all together, both food and weapons supplies for the front and allied countries. Many souls both crew and passengers lost at the mercy of the U boats and wolf packs. Am sure most of us at LRU have some link with family to those who fought for the UK , and the brilliant seamanship of many skippers and crew who got their ships to safety after suffering terrible damage .

So I never joined the RSA on principle, and yet now as numbers dwindle from the serving ranks it seems anyone can join so the clubs can maintain their fiscal stability. Last year I was approached by one local RSA to consider a painting of the HMNZS Achilles , well known for its involvement at the Battle of the River Plate, and its link to Lancashire being Barrow built. It was also one of the earliest ships my father recalls when he started at VickersArmstrongs as an apprentice. So I was most excited. After supplying the costs to them and mentioning the link with home, I eventually got a reply to the effect that some members thought I may like to' donate' the work  perhaps thinking I don't need to eat , drink or pay bills for four months and then when I replied and mentioned commissioned work means just that they eventually responded saying it has been abandoned as it would not suit the new wallpaper in the club-which is bright flowers,  and I mean bright.  

So regardless of this with a another commission in hand for Barrow built HMS Ajax , which was also at the Battle of the River plate, received from overseas, I will still be painting the Achilles but it won't be going to the RSA . I should add there's an ironic twist to this story, the club which did intend me to paint the ship have named their restaurant .................yes you guessed   "ACHILLES."!!!!

  ARTWORK NEWS Those members and guests who have read the notices by John regarding the artwork will have the opportunity -as members of LRU only , to buy copies of my paintings through the LRU SHOP. Work that is directly linked to Lancashire will be available. Most scenes will be transport but possibly a few landscapes also in time. Eventually the idea is to build up a comprehensive library of work which will be exclusive to Johns site on Lancashire places both prior and after the boundary changes. 

As most of the first paintings will be either ones all ready produced or currently in production they will be spec work so can only be produced in between commissions which is my livelihood. However you are invited to commission a painting if you so wish and if linked to Lancashire I would be asking if you would allow it to be made into copies for others to have the opportunity to purchase via John.

I must also point out that I am not making any capital out of the copies , its all for LRU . The original paintings however are obtained through me and my email address is given in previous blogs. I will be most happy to give a free quote without obligation . Some of the work John will have for sale , I still have as originals.  Costs from myself are not high but realistic based on materials ,research and time, but I do it also for the pleasure it gives which you can not place a price on.

I will explain in  a later blog a bit more background on things, except to say over 1400 commissioned projects have been completed in the past 10 years including cartoons for newspapers, books and magazines , and over 300 paintings sold overseas. This should indicate I do take my work seriously even if much of it is poking fun at others.  

This week am attaching a few cartoons for you to enjoy which have appeared in various publications. New work to be released over the coming months  includes Fenwick's at Preston , Morecambe and Heyham on the prom, Ribble at Ulverston, Ribble at Blackburn, Lancashire United , Rochdale Corporation, Oldham , Blackpool , Holland's Pies, T.Brady and Sons , Barrow Corporation , Accrington  and more.   I wish you all a very happy and safe week,   until next time.

  regards, Wallace

   A few years ago I received some information about our family history from my father Walter Trickett who wrote on the following. Attached is a photo of his father's shop in Dalton Road , Barrow in Furness .

William Trickett was a pork butcher and ran two shops, the other in Tudor Square at Dalton in Furness . I understand the Dalton shop eventually became the Post Office there. The Barrow one was at 142 Dalton Road ,(now near Portland Walk) next door was Babyland , with Alexandre's Clothing Shop the other side. The Travellers Rest Hotel stood opposite. This photo was taken on the occasion of the Jubilee of King George and Queen Mary or/and Coronation of George 6th to Duchess of York in the mid thirties, so my father writes.

It would appear my grandfather was well known in the town and in golfing circles having won many trophies which I recall being displayed at my Gran' and Auntie's home at Hibbert Road, Barrow. William was helped in the shop his wife Hilda, sister in law Bet and daughter Kathleen. I am grateful to my father for the information and given the colours he remembers intend to produce a painting of William Tricketts shop.  

For the members of the forum it also seems the pies made at the shop were a firm favourite amongst Barrovians, one member of Southlake's commenting last year he could still recall their great taste , which was a very kind tribute to William. To promote his business he employed a cartoonist to come up with some humour, and I remember one showing a large pig in top hat and tails with the motto" First came the Stone Age. then the Ice Age, .....now try our Sause Age"   As a young lad trains and buses were at the top of the list for hobbies.

I had a friend called David and we would both rush out after tea on our bikes and stand down near what is called Listers corner near Roose station, next to the textile company and spot the Furness trains each evening. (We would always get chased away by the Roose station master even if we were just sitting on the seat on the platform, he was not very friendly to say the least). At around 6.10 a goods would pass through heading south, usually hauled by steam loco number 42119, then often another goods coming north sometimes with a Britannia class-as shown in issue 2 but more often a black five class

.The highlight was at 6.55 the London -Barrow appeared around the corner usually hauled by Type 4 English Electric -later class 40. They appeared huge diesels to me and always looked impressive, clean and often with the name on the side of an ocean liner. The Co Bo Metropolitan Vickers diesels-Class 28 were around then on most short hauled passenger work and never received the same enthusiasm as other types of diesels.

      The painting shows one of the 20 members of this short lived class arriving at Roose with the morning Preston working , whilst a steam hauled goods passes opposite by Roose bridge. This work is 12x24" painted in 2004 and prints will be available through LRU soon , and the original work is also offered for sale . 

Details can be sought by contacting me by email given in issue 1.   We watched on television a biography of musician Eric Clapton, and whilst enjoyable the programme makers seemed to have omitted one of his finest pieces he wrote for the TV series 'Edge of Darkness' in 1986 ,(Bob Peck , Joanne Whalley), I have the soundtrack and is very moving and atmospheric and considered a turning point in British drama. 

  I started this weeks blog with family, many of whom are unfortunately no longer with us but I conclude with good news we received last weekend , we became grandparents again, this time  a granddaughter born in Brisbane to our youngest daughter and her hubby. All doing well , so with that I wish you all a happy and safe week until next time.  Take care , regards Wallace.  

The Otaki Blog     Issue 4

    Last week my family and I travelled to New Plymouth 280 kms north west of Otaki .  The roads here outside large cities are rather like the 'A' roads I remember in the 60's and 70's , but there are adequate passing lanes , even so this journey took us just over four hours with two refreshment stops along the way . One reason for going to New Plymouth was to visit a large transport company who have contracted me for artwork for several years, and was interesting to meet the management and staff and see where the various paintings have ended up.

I will write about this in more detail in weeks to come with samples of the work. At New Plymouth is Pukakura Park , and each year it is beautifully lit up with lights in  trees, waterfall effects and the buildings around the park. Not to be missed . It took me back to the visits at Happy Mount Park in Morecambe, the only thing missing last week was those lovely little miniature trains that I recall went around the gardens. The city also has a marvellous Museum with plenty of inter active things happening for the younger generation.

My favourite part was seven beautiful portraits of Maori ladies (elders) but artist not apparently known , hanging in the Maori cultural hall. They could almost speak to you . Another feature was a full scale version of a 10metre White pointer shark -as per same as Jaws, it would appear these very large fish roamed the seas off New Zealand many centuries ago, today the average size of them here is less than half the model represents, but still not what you want to meet .

  Police in the city of Hastings on the east side of the North Island have got tired of continued theft of road signs. A senior constable called for an amnesty -"bring them back , no questions asked approach" This they did, not just a few but two whole truck loads with an average value of 130 pounds ($NZ300) per sign were returned including a speed camera , railway crossing lights, and crème de la crème one grandmother hauled her 9 year old grandson in with a STOP sign!!!.  As funny as it may appear the police mentioned such theft will lead to accidents and next time prosecution will follow, and as to why they are nicked, ......................perhaps its a 'SIGN '- of the times!!!

   I will be posting new work soon on Lancashire Bus fleets and trains (refer issue 3) but for this week a contrast . , a landscape in the 'peace at last" series.  A series of work showing both UK spots of beauty and NZ. This is Queen Charlotte Sound in the South Island , based on my own photo during a holiday there, the oil painting is on stretched canvas of 15x30"   The other scene shows a Manchester Metrolink number 2007 passing the Library , and is artists licence as I had no actual photos to go on other than that of the tram and a separate shot of the buildings taken at a very different angle. The buildings look as if they are leaning, this is the way the original shot was taken and is not so in the original painting. Oil on canvas panel 15x30 , a commission completed in 2005.   I trust you all have a happy and safe week.   Take  care . regards Wallace.
  I Hope that you are all taking the time to read these wonderful postings and enjoying the fine paintings of our talented member ---THANK YOU WALLACE for taking the time to do this------See more by going to LANCASHIRE FOLK and clickin on the drop down menu bar .

JOHN