Previously unseen paintings, artworks, correspondence and artefacts belonging to the late author, artist, naturalist and conservationist Denys Watkins-Pitchford MBE will be on display at a once-in-a-lifetime event at the beginning of July.

Mr Watkins-Pitchford, or BB as he was better known by his readers, is not featured in any museum or art gallery. His works are owned by enthusiasts and collectors who are coming together from all over the United Kingdom to create the unique ‘Life and Works of BB’ exhibition from 30th June through 6th July at Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire. The exhibition is being organised by the BB Society, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, and to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the fi rst publication of one of BB’s most famous books: Brendon Chase. It tells the story of three young boys who run away and live like outlaws in a wild and beautiful English forest.

Examples of exhibits include BB’s easel bearing his last and uncompleted painting of a  wildfowler and his dog sitting on the shore as well as his last completed painting - an oil of geese landing in a snowstorm; the morning tails he wore to Buckingham Palace when he was presented with his MBE; BB’s butterfl y egg seeking stick and pill boxes he used to take the mature insects back to the woods for release; copies of the covers from the 60 books he wrote - all of which he illustrated too; six commemorative First Day Covers of British wild animals plus three of the original scraperboards BB was commissioned to accompany them; the original paintings produced by acclaimed war artist John Worsley for the 1970s 13-part TV series Baldmoney, Sneezewort, Dodder and Cloudberry - the adaptation of BB’s Carnegie Medal winning children’s book The Little Grey Men. Also, original scraperboards from Confessions of a Carp Fisher, BB’s own fi shing rod - made for him by Dick Walker; two trout priests given by BB to BB Society chairman Gordon Wright (one made from oak from BB’s ancestral home of Pitchford Hall) and handwritten notes to housekeepers and port Hall Life & Works of ‘BB’ Lamport Hall Life & Works of ‘BB’ Lamport Hall Life & Works of ‘BB’ Lamport Hall Life & Works of ‘2706 71 expected visitors. Details of further exhibits are being received daily and it is expected that there will be in excess of 100 items.

BB grew up in the rectory opposite Lamport Hall and spent much of his childhood exploring the local countryside. Chairman of the BB Society, Mr Gordon Wright, credits the hall and its famous rockery with its collection of gnomes as inspiring him to write The Little Grey Men.
For anyone who has read anything by BB, or who enjoys his art, this is a one off opportunity to see and fi nd out so much more about the man and his work. The BB Society is proud to bring BB home to Lamport and Northamptonshire where he set much of his work and is delighted
to be able to get together so much memorabilia and look forward to a successful exhibition. On Thursday 3rd July there will be opportunities to meet and talk to those who knew and worked with BB.

Lamport Hall & Gardens 2014

Tel: 01604 686272
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Full details on our website: www.lamporthall.co.uk
Lamport Hall
Lamport, Northampton NN6 9HD

• The home of the garden
gnome!
• Beautiful house and gardens
dating back more than 400
years
• Open Wednesday/Thursday
afternoons and Bank Holidays
• Refreshments available


COMING UP:
21 Jun - 6 Jul: Arts Fortnight

Art Exhibition
The Life and Works of ‘BB’
Shakespeare
Jazz in the Garden

24/25 August:
Antiques & Collectors Fair

For opening times and admission prices see www.lamporthall.co.uk At 11am leaving from Lamport Hall, a walk along the Wild Lone trail led by BB Society member John Sanders, a local authority on the locations featured in the book which tells the story of Rufus, a Pytchley fox; at 2pm at Lamport Hall, a reading from Brendon Chase; at 3.15pm a Question and Answer session on BB chaired by those who knew and worked with him.

The Life and Works of BB is free to enter and take part in. The exhibition is open Monday
30th June 12noon to 4pm; Tuesday 1st through Friday 4th July 10am to 4pm; Saturday 5th July
2.30- 4pm and Sunday 6th July 10am to 4pm.

All timings subject to change. More information can be found at www.bbsociety.co.uk or search
facebook for BB Week or twitter @LifeandWorkofBB

Lamport Hall Life & Works of ‘BB’

Lamport Hall Life & Works of ‘BB’

Lamport Hall Life & Works of ‘BB’