|
St George's House,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memorials St George's had two War Memorials on display in the foyer of the main building. These were in remembrance of the old boys and girls that served in World War I and World War II. They were both produced by professionals in their own field, Frances Darlington Sculptor (WWI Memorial) and the firm of Robert Thomson aka the 'Mouseman of Kilburn' (WWII Memorial). See below for more information: 1914 - 1918 World War
Memorial.
Following is a
list of those St George's old boys who served in the First World
War, thirty seven in all. The names in Yellow
Frances Darlington. Sculptor. The Artist who designed and sculpted the World War 1 memorial.
Born in Headingley, Leeds, Yorkshire, on 2nd
February 1880 to Emma & Latimer Darlington
(Solicitor and Belgium Consul for Bradford).
Her early childhood was spent in Ilkley,
Yorkshire,
the family then moved to Harrogate.
We extend our thanks and appreciation to Louise Marchal, Great Great Niece of Frances Darlington, for giving us access to her research and for providing photos of this truly remarkable artist and her work. Some close up photographs of the World War I Memorial, showing the workmanship and detail involved in the sculpture.
1939 - 1945 World War Memorial. This memorial was commissioned by the 'Old' Girls and Boys of St George's and was unveiled in Easter 1947. It commemorates the five boys from St George's who lost their lives while serving with the Armed Forces during the Second World War.
Henry Hunter Bagot.
Royal Armoured
Corps
The
memorial plaque was manufactured by the well known craftsman,
Robert Thompson "The Mouseman of Kilburn" and features The Craftsman: Robert Thompson. 1876 - 1955
Robert Thompson, born in 1876 dedicated his life to the craft of carving and joinery in English Oak at his workshop located at Kilburn, North Yorkshire. He taught himself to use the traditional tools and by 1919 he was experimenting with his own ideas for producing furniture based on the English styles of the 17th Century. The famous mouse symbol, found on every item crafted by Robert Thompson’s, became his trademark . The story told by Robert Thompson himself is that one of his craftsmen remarked that they “were all as poor as church mice” whereupon Robert carved a mouse on the church screen he was working on. That particular mouse has never been found but it has continued as a trade mark of quality and dedication ever since. Robert Thompson a true craftsman, died in 1955.
What happened to the two Memorials ? When the St George's buildings were demolished the two memorials were transferred to St Andrew's, Police Treatment Centre, Harrogate, for safekeeping. They remained there until the early part of 2007. St Andrew's was undergoing refurbishment at the time and the two plaques were officially donated by Katherine Martin, former Chief Executive Officer at St Andrew's, to Ralph Lindley of the Ripon Museum, where they were both refurbished and made available for viewing by the public.
|