Beatle records

24. 'Yesterday' 

The resident trad jazz band played at all the Leeds Art School raves and at home my elder brother was also a jazz fan, his Sidney Bechet and Jelly Roll Morton supplanting our parents' choice of music. Even so, there was no escaping the Beatles. This 'Yesterday' single is the first of their records that I bought.

I was living in London when the 'Rubber Soul' record was released and have a clear memory of walking along Lewisham Way one dark evening, arm in arm with my boyfriend, both of us singing 'Norwegian Wood'. He had come from the north of England for the weekend to visit me and we were on our way to my dingy little bed-sit. I was studying at Goldsmith's College in my fifth and final year as a student. 

We had no idea what the future had in store.

Sculpture

23. Sandstone carving

Four years at art school produces a lot of art, not all of it easy to transport back home. This stone carving was one of a number of large, and heavy, pieces made by a student at Leeds College of Art called Wyatt. It was an exam piece, twenty-four inches high, designed for the foyer of a maternity hospital. He simply did not have the means to take his work away and store it and said that if I wanted any of his carvings I could have them. My father obligingly drove to college to collect my work and anything of Wyatt's that we could transport. There were some other lovely carvings, sadly too large for us to handle.

Period evening dress

22. Silk chiffon evening dress from the 1920's or 30's.

Art school life provided the opportunity to wear whatever you liked, and after years of school uniform I seized on this freedom with joy. When the local drama group disbanded I was allowed to raid the prop box and carried off a number of outfits that took me to student balls and raves and during rag week to precarious rides on the art college float.

This is the only piece of clothing from the prop box that I still have. It is not in good shape, the fabric is starting to disintegrate and the skirt is slightly spattered with oil paint. I think that this dress was actually intended for nothing more strenuous than lifting a cocktail glass!

It is fully lined with a beaded neckline and feels lovely to wear; the gored hem sways about your ankles as you move.

This is the dress that started my love affair with the colour purple. When I first acquired it my hair was long and dark and it is now short and white, but wearing purple clothes, not to mention shoes, bags and jewelry always makes me feel happy and most like 'me'.

A row of buttons serve no other purpose than to decorate the back.

Bedspread

21. Double bedspread

In the late fifties and 'swinging' sixties the fabric and furniture designs that were most popular were 'modern' and Scandinavian in style. But I much preferred old-fashioned items and was often given lovely things simply because the owners knew that I would appreciate them.

This beautiful quilted bedspread was one such present, from a woman whom I hardly knew. It is an old piece but is in perfect condition, beautifully made, with broad stripes of alternate red and white stitched cotton on the top side and solid red fabric in a paisley design on the reverse. The bedspread is entirely hand stitched. These days it is rarely used, only in very warm summer weather when the duvet is banished. Then I get out a pair of my mother's Irish linen sheets and luxuriate!

Detail of the paisley fabric showing the hand stitching.

Pocket watch

20. Victorian pocket watch

 

This silver pocket watch was a present given to me by a fellow art student. He bought it, although it wasn't working, because there were roses on the clock face, suitable for me, and because it was a lovely object. I think that he paid about three pounds for it. It has lain in its box for very many years. 

Last autumn I took  the watch to the jewelers and asked if it was worth repairing. I was assured that it was. It cost me one hundred and forty-five pounds to put back into good working order and it is still sitting in its box. Now I need to buy a suitable watch chain so that I can wear it in my waistcoat pocket.

It is becoming an expensive momento! 

Brooches

18. Victorian garnet brooch

These two brooches belonged to my grandmother. I  wore them regularly as an art student, pinned at my throat, just as Isabella did. I love jewelry, especially family pieces that give such a feeling of continuity .

                                             19.

The second brooch, worn below by my grandmother, is my favourite. My mother was happy to pass this jewelry on to me as she did not especially like Victorian  pieces.

Isabella Leishman

Giraffe

16. Wooden and string giraffe

 This toy giraffe was how I used to occupy my fingers and my imagination in childhood. By careful manipulation of the base he could be made to 'walk' and 'talk'. Long conversations were had with my giraffe, who would listen politely before nodding his head in agreement. (He was quite a good dancer as well.)

 

17. Wood and string brooch 

My father brought this brooch of a climber's boots and pick as a present for me from the Lake District. I was not impressed. He had taken my older brother  to the lakes for a walking weekend, leaving me, a mere girl, at home.  Although fond of brooches I don't recall ever having worn this one. 

Do you think that I was consoled by being brought a present? Not on your life!

I don't know why I have kept it.