the times | Thursday August 6 2020 1GM 51
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Kensington Palace
5th August, 2020
The Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge this morning visited
Barry Island Promenade and
were received by Her Majesty’s
Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan
(Mrs Morfudd Meredith).
Their Royal Highnesses this
afternoon visited Shire Hall Care
Home, Overstone Court, Dumballs
Road, Cardiff.Wragg used colour instinctively.
Below: a self portrait he painted
a few weeks before his deathSt James’s Palace
5th August, 2020
The Earl of Wessex, Trustee, The
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, this
morning held a Meeting with
Ms Ruth Marvel (Chief Executive)
and Ms Caroline Glen (Director of
Fundraising) via video link.
His Royal Highness, Patron, the
Tennis and Rackets Association, this
afternoon held a Meeting with Mr David
Watson (Chairman) via video link.Court Circular
John Wragg
Spirited Yorkshireman known for his abstract artwork
John Wragg’s sculpture Em-
brace consists of two simple alu-
minium arcs, like the letter “r”,
meeting and just touching. One
is slender, the other stocky. It
was commissioned in 1966 for a
now-demolished precinct out-
side Sainsbury’s supermarket on
the Kings Road, Chelsea, but
residents took exception to
what they saw as its obscene na-
ture, with some describing it as
two male appendages kissing.
Aluminium forms that were
sliced, fitted or smoothed with
great finesse and an assured
technical skill were Wragg’s
stock in trade, although not
everyone appreciated their ab-
stract nature.
Wragg, a spirited Yorkshire-
man, said that executing his
work required strong discipline,
paraphrasing Degas to those
who asked where he found his
inspiration: “You don’t find in-
spiration, it’s hard work.” In his
paintings the colour came in-
stinctively. “You can’t just do a
drawing and then fill it in with
colour. You just have to try it out
because it has a life of its own.”
His paintings featured many
different women, some of whom
were muses of one sort or
another. He compared his art-
works to his lovers, sometimes
painting over those that did not
work: “They’ve died. It’s a bit like
a relationship. They go and die
on you. Then you’ve got to
start again.” Once the art of
painting stops being a mys-
tery, “you have to pack it in”,
he said. “And thank God, so
far, I haven’t had to pack it
in. I just want to paint
bloody pictures, you know.”
John Wragg was born in
York in 1937, the only child
of Arthur Wragg, an ac-
countant at British Sugar,
and his wife, Ethel (née
Ransome), a dressmaker
who used a wheelchair from
the age of 30. The family
home was in the same street
as Terry’s chocolate factory,
from whose female workers
John would charm supplies of
chocolate.
At Knavesmire primary
school, York, he was a poor stu-
dent and was often bullied; later
he was identified as dyslexic.
This contributed to an uneasy
relationship with his father who,
while not discouraging his son’s
wish to draw and paint, regular-
ly urged him to “get a real job”.
On one occasion Wragg ven-
tured into York School of Art,
where he was unimpressed by
the quality of the students’ work
and promptly told the principal
that he could do better. He sub-
mitted an anonymous watercol-
our for the school’s weekly as-
sessment and it was selected by
the head of painting as the best
piece of the week.
In 1953 he was offered a place
and while there got to know
David Hockney, who was study-
ing at Bradford School of Art.
The two subsequently remained
in touch. Later Wragg studied at
the Royal College of Art in
London, his entry being based
solely upon the quality of his
paintings after he failed to quali-
fy academically. Upon arrival he
declared that he wanted to be a
sculptor not a painter, because
three dimensions were more
challenging than two. Evenmore tricky was his preference
for working with aluminium.
Soon after graduating he was
invited to show at the Hanover
Gallery in central London
where he rubbed shoulders with
some of the most influential art-
ists of the modernist scene, in-
cluding Alberto Giacometti, the
Swiss sculptor. That solo show
in 1963, the first of three at the
gallery, attracted interest for the
romantic surrealism of his im-
agery. “Long swaying stalks,
gnarled and knotted roots, bare
rib-cases, and suggestions of
human torsos that have turned
to plants, are the main images in
this evocation of mortality in
nature,” observed a Times critic
of a collection called Funeral
Group, before concluding:
“Clearly, though, this is a young
sculptor with a fertility of imagi-nation and the technical equip-
ment to carry him forward
rapidly.”
When told that in 1964 the
Tate had bought Funeral Group,
Wragg reputedly asked a col-
league whether that was good or
bad for his career. From 1961 to
1990 he taught at Chelsea
School of Art. New students at-
tending tutorials in his studio
would sometimes be told that he
had to step outside to see his dog,
which he said had been trained
to sit outside but would leave for
the pub when it heard the lesson
ending. The dog was imaginary
and used to illustrate creativity,
but the drawback was that
Wragg had to find a way to hide
the treats brought for it by well-
meaning students.
In 1958 he married Valerie
McCready and they had a son,
Julian, known as Jules, who has
worked as an electrician and lor-
ry driver. After the marriage was
dissolved he settled in Devizes,
Wiltshire, with a group of artists.From there he drove increasing-
ly powerful cars along the M4
into Chelsea, claiming that the
needle went off the clock when
he nudged 128mph. He also
met Deborah McCabe, who
became his partner until she
died of cancer 15 years ago,
after which he gave up
smoking his Sasieni Royal
Stuart pipe.
At that time he also aban-
doned sculpture and re-
turned to painting. He dis-
liked crowds and was un-
comfortable with ceremony,
which meant that he never
collected his medal from the
Royal Academy, to which he
had been elected in 1991. In-
stead he preferred the soli-
tude of his studio, where he
worked to a background of clas-
sical music.
Wragg, who enjoyed walking
and donated many paintings to
charity, maintained an affection
for the city of his birth, where in
1969 his sculptures were spread
over the green lawns of the
King’s Manor quadrangle as
part of the York Festival.
As for Embrace, after being
vandalised several times in
London it was eventually found
a home where the residents
were neither offended nor saw
vulgarity in its smooth lines. It is
now in Milton Keynes, a com-
panion piece to the town’s con-
crete cows.John Wragg, RA, artist, was
born on October 20, 1937. He
died after a stroke on May 26,
2020, aged 82He would pause
tutorials to check on
his imaginary dog
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workBUT Elimelech, the husband of Naomi,
died, and she was left with her two
sons. These took Moabite wives; the
name of the one was Orpah and the
name of the other Ruth. They lived
there about ten years. Ruth 1.3-4 (ESV)
Bible verses are provided by the
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received by 11.30am three days prior to insertion.Charity Appeals
GORDON Elizabeth Jane (née Wates)
died suddenly on 1st August 2020,
Adored wife of Jimmy, much loved
mother of Christopher, Nichola, Claire
and Emily and proud grandmother.
Founder of Elizabeth Jane Foundation,
Founder and Patron of the Oxfordshire
and former Chair of the Berkshire
Community Foundations. A private
funeral will be held at Shiplake on
Tuesday 11th August. There will be a
Service of Thanksgiving at a later date.
Family flowers only, donations if
desired to the Oxfordshire or Berkshire
Community Foundations c/o Tomalin
and Son 38 Reading Road Henley on
Thames RG 9 1AG.PART Carol Ann (née Wensley
formerly Hollingsworth) died Monday
3 rd August 2020 at home just short of
her 78th birthday. Deeply devoted and
adored wife of David, much loved
mother, sister, aunt, niece, great aunt,
Stepmother and Granny. Open air
funeral service at Drove Lane
Cemetery, Market Lavington SN1 0
4 NT, at 2.30pm on Friday 14th August.
Family Flowers only. Donations to
Dorothy House Hospice or Stars
Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital c/o
A.P McDonald Funeral Services, The
Chequers, Devizes, SN10 1ATEDWARDSKenneth, CBE. passed away
peacefully on 31st July 2020, aged
94 after a short illness. Beloved
husband of Jenefer and much
loved father of Vivien, Deryn and
Vaughan (D). Adored by his large,
loving family.HAWES,Charles died suddenly on 31st July
2 020, aged 94. Beloved father of
Amanda, Simon and Joe,
Grandfather of Lucy and Clare;
loving friend of Rosie. Private
Funeral at St Mary, Ilminster on
Thursday 13th August. Donations
to lovemusgrove.org.ukWILSONPeter Raymond died
peacefully on 4th August 2020, aged 7 8
at home, following a short illness.
Most beloved husband of Lavinia,
dearly loved father of Miranda,
Nicholas and Andrew; grandfather,
father-in-law and brother. Private
family cremation, with a thanksgiving
service to be held at a later date. No
flowers please. Donations, if desired, to
Dorothy House Hospice, BA15 2LE.BRIDGES Professor Roy Charles died
peacefully on 1st August 2020, aged 8 7
Emeritus Professor of History at
Aberdeen University. Beloved husband
of the late Jill, much loved dad to
Sarah, Alastair, John and Katharine, a
loving grandad, brother, uncle and
friend to many. Funeral private due to
current restrictions.HOWARD: ATKINS
Diamond Wedding Anniversary
Celebration. On 6th August 1960
Pauline Elizabeth to Dr. Peter Howard
at St. Mary’s Church at Wanstead in
Essex. Sixty fantastic years resulting
in “Six of the Best” and nineteen
amazing grandchildren. Now at
Lamarsh in Suffolk.GRAVATT Christopher John on 31st
July 2020, aged 88. Died peacefully.
Beloved husband of Valerie; much loved
father of Simon, Helen, Julian and
Giles; grandfather of Jay, Natasha,
Zach, Ada, Jemima, Florence and Leo.
Private family funeral. Donations, if
desired, to the Alzheimer’s Society.RENWICK 2ND BARONHarry Andrew
died on 2nd August 2020, aged 84, at
the NHS Seacole Centre, Headley
Court, Surrey. Beloved husband of
Homayoun (Mazandi) and loving father
of Robert and Michael and stepfather
to Shahriar and Yassi. A private family
service will be held in due course.FENWICK Muriel Gillian (née Hodnett)
on 1st August 2020, aged 86 peacefully
at home. Dearly loved mother of
Andrew, Adam and Hugo and adored
grandmother of Lucy, Mungo, Anna,
William, George, Theodore, Sam and
Inigo. Family funeral at Lower Swell.MRN.T.TSEVDOS
AND MISSR.L.SPENDLOVE
The engagement is announced between
Nicholas,eldest son of Mr and Mrs
Theodore Tsevdos of Oinousses,Greece
and Rosanna, second daughter of Mr
and Mrs Peter Spendlove of London.MILLINGTON BUCK On 28th July
2020 to Caryl (née Poon) and Ned, a
daughter, Mia Charlotte , in HKLEWIS On 30th July 2020, to Lizzie
(née Kirby) and Charlie, in Surrey, a
daughter Ada Elise, sister to Amelia.Forthcoming
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