There was a good turnout of members at the Javea U3A October general meeting at the Casa de Cultura theatre in the Old Town – many of whom were looking forward to a talk by member Peter Atkinson on the life and work of famous English artist L S Lowry.
It was also a good day for charity with a collection raising 219.15 euros for Make A Smile in support of disadvantaged local children.
U3A President Claude Grealy welcomed members and appealed for more volunteers, particularly to help organise social events. He added that the committee had decided that the annual subscription should rise from 5 to 10 euros next year.
Membership Secretary Henrik Rasmussen said the U3A now had 1,058 members, which included 56 new members, and Treasurer Sally Rush reported that the association’s finances were “healthy”.
Groups Co-ordinator Mike Frost said he was delighted that three new groups had formed: Not Just Folk Music, Padel Tennis for Beginners, and Knit and Natter.
There followed Peter Atkinson’s excellent presentation.
Best known for his paintings and drawings of “matchstick men and women” and scenes of life in the industrial North, Laurence Stephen Lowry holds the record for rejecting British honours including a knighthood, OBE, CBE and Companion of Honour.
Peter illustrated his talk with photos of many of Lowry’s most famous artwork including The Football Match, At the Factory Gates, A Village Square, The Mill Pendlebury and Sailing Boats. Many sold for millions of pounds at auction.
Peter traced Lowry’s life from his birth in Manchester in 1887 to his death from pneumonia in Glossop, Derbyshire in 1976, aged 88.
He explained that Lowry was a clerk and rent collector by day and did most of his paintings by night after his disapproving mother had gone to bed.
Lowry never married and never left Britain although he travelled extensively, painting landscapes of scenes in Wales and Scotland as well as north and south England.
While he remained a bachelor, it is curious that he painted portraits of a woman he named ‘Ann’, although it is unclear whether she was real or a figment of his imagination.
And after his death, he left his entire estate valued at £298,459 and a considerable number of artworks to Carol Ann Lowry (no relation!), who he had helped through art school and supported her work as an artist and teacher.
Peter was applauded by his audience and presented with a gift of appreciation by U3A President Claude Grealy.
