59
OMNIA
Issue 06 Autumn/Winter 2019
IN THE ARCHIVES
The painting of the School lodge By Lynn Moseley (OC 1947 – 1955)
T
his picture of the School lodge was painted by David Lynn Moseley as an item in the portfolio of his work that he submitted for assessment as part of his A-level Art exam in 1955. He was one of three brothers and others from Wales who were boarders at Caterham School at the time I was a pupil there, from the mid-1940s into the 1950s. Besides our family connections with Wales, all our families were brought up in the denomination of the Congregational Church; indeed, the Moseley brothers and others were the sons of Congregational ministers. Although we lived in Caterham, my parents and I were also of Welsh families with a Congregational upbringing. In many ways it was natural for me to become friends with the Welsh contingent. My mother and father were concerned for these boys in surroundings so different from their homes. Indeed, when one of the group first came to Caterham the Welsh language was his first tongue. So, every so often, the
Welsh boys would be invited to our home and arrangements made for them to have a few hours out of school. This they very much appreciated. As a thankyou gesture to my parents for the warmth of their welcome and their hospitality, Lynn gave them the painting. My father died very soon after he and my mother received the gift and it was my mother’s treasured possession for many years. After her death, it came to me and my family. It has always been of value to us, particularly because of my own involvement for many, many years with Caterham School and also in different ways that of my late wife, my two sons and my daughter. It seems appropriate for the painting to hang in Caterham School as an item of historical interest in the life of the School. Thus, although it will be missed from display in my home, we are all pleased to donate it for that purpose. Written and donated by John Mathias (OC 1945 – 1955)
If you would like to submit something to the archive and/or share your own memories, please contact Annie Hebden, Alumni Officer on 01883 335091 or email: oldcats@caterhamschool.co.uk