George's Father was John Beaumont Shaw, (13 August 1873 to 6 June 1953) a lecturer in Engineering and his mother was Gertrude Payne (27 June 1870 to 12 January 1938) - the couple married on 1st August 1900

September 1917– July 1920 : George attended Kings College School, Wimbledon (off Wimbledon Common, London). The Headmaster's reference says he left in 1920 to study Art, and lists all George’s subjects, noting his credits in English and Drawing

A cowboy in a saloon

Highwayman

A Native American, 1926 - with a dubious caption I have cropped out.

Boyhood magazine clippings, showing the influences on masculinities at that time - guns, fighting, colonialism ...

George with my Great Uncle Sidney.

Untitled - likely mid-1930s

September 1921 to June 1925 : George attended Battersea Polytechnic, as a student of Arts and Crafts. The Head of the School of Art writes that George studied Drawing, Painting and Design. George clearly went to life drawing classes. We have some of his drawings of life models, and some of these drawings were timed – done in '10 mins'.

On 1st November 1928, George married Gwendoline Coles. Gwendoline was a nurse, born 12th February 1907 in Salisbury, Wiltshire. The had two children : John Beaumont Shaw, my Uncle, born on 13th June 1929 and Ann Shaw (no middle name), my Mum, on 20th March 1931. On 1st April 1931, Gwendoline died, age 24 years, from a post-partum infection – recorded as 'puerperal septicaemia complicated by general peritonitis following full term delivery'. Penicillin was discovered in 1928, but was presumably not in routine use in at that time. George's parents took on the care of their two grandchildren and George had a room in their house at Copse Hill, Wimbledon.

Highwayman

Fisherman, 1925

Kelso Bridge, 1936

A handsome fellow indeed.

George with birthday cake - possibly 80th?

No date. But on back it says G.B.Shaw Div 1 Section 4 (so maybe done while he was in the Royal Marines, between Dec 1942-Jan 1946)

Man in hat - no date

Man with pipe - no date

On 27th June 1936, George married George Dorothy Margaret Lees. He had met her while on holiday in Worthing with his two children and his parents; George's mother Gertrude died two years later in 1938.

In eighteen months between 1928 and 1929, George worked for Woodcock and Mellersh Analytical Chemists, and 'left us to take up another position'.

On the back of this Ann (my Mum, George's daughter) says : usual Shaw scowl!

Church near Stoneham Estuary.

Tamworth Lane, Mitcham, Surrey - 1929

Christmas Card from George, Gwendoline (his then wife) and John (his son, before Ann was born).

The inscription on the back of the Christmas card.

Sketches - no date

Man with gun - no date

Man in Hat - 1928

Between 1929 and 1939 : At age 27, on 20th June 1929, just one week after John was born, George started working as a 'Totalisator Operator' at the Racecourse Betting Control Board in London. The job involved him in racecourse meetings around the country, but he was neither interested in horses nor did he bet at the races – 'it was just a job' (my Uncle said). George worked at the Racecourse betting office for ten years, until 14th September 1939, when the outbreak of war meant the board closed business.

Between 1939 and 1945 : According to his son John (my Uncle), when war broke out George tried to join the navy but was told he was too old. So he went to the Royal Marines. He took all the Royal Marines training and joined the Training staff. The Admiralty had taken over the Thurlestone Hotel from 1941-1945 as a training centre for the Royal Marines. About 20 new marine officer cadets were turned out each week, but the number of training officers remained constant. According to his certificate of service, George worked as a marine (abbreviated to 'Mne') with 'above average efficiency' from 1942 to 1946.

This is on the back of the Jumbo picture.

George, Ann, Andrew (me), Duncan (my brother) and George's second wife Diana.

More Shaw Scowl

A metal elephant with the inscription 'Jumbo' - I stil have the elephant - a paperweight I think.

Ann had this in an envelope marked 'Grandpa's naughty drawing'

My grandmother Gwendoline - she died having my mum, Ann.

He was first enrolled at Lympstone, Devon on 10th November 1942. And the service record says his height was 5 ft. and 5.5 inches, he had blue eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion.

1964-1977. Employed at Worthing library for 13 years, until 31 March 1977.

Unknown location I'm afraid

Rather a faded polaroid detail.

George with his favourite painting by Paynton - I still have the painting.

The Shed - 227 New King's Road, Fulham, SW6

Unknown location I'm afraid

George worked as a totaliser operator - a betting officer - at the racecourse betting office in london for 10 years (1929-39).

This illustration by appears at the foot of every page in the club magazine!

My Memories of Grandpa

I'm Andy Cragg and George was my grandfather on my Mum's side (Ann). My memories are fairly scant but I remember Grandpa as a charming, gentle soul.

He would come round to our house in Worthing on Sundays and bring his 'doby' - as he called the parcel of washing he brought round for Mum to do (it was the 1970's), wrapped in brown paper, I seem to remember. He would religiously complete the Sunday Express cryptic crossword all the while smoking his favourite cigarettes, the name of which esacpes me - possibly Rothmans.

When I was a teenager, Grandpa responded to my telling him that my first girlfriend had dumped me by saying 'Ah, so she's broken off diplomatic relations then?' This seemed to make me feel a little better about it.

He had a local pub - The Warwick - (now O'Conner's) where he would meet with his friends Van and Peter - I never met them, as far as I know, but they seem to be best chums for a long time.

As far as his career went, I have very little information, apart from the notes above. On my Mum's birth certificate his occupation was 'Artist Oil and Watercolours', and on his death certificate it was 'Janitor/Odd job man'. I knew he worked at the Tote, and towards the end of his life - gardening at Worthing Library. He once said that to be a good worker, you finish the job you are on, even if it means going home later. Advice I've ignored most of my life actually :)

And that is it - when I remember more anecdotes/info I will post them here

George Beaumont Shaw | Artworks

16th August 1902 (Swansea) to 15th July 1985 (Worthing)

My Memories of Grandpa