89. Valerie BEERE
In an eMail, dated, March, 7, 2002, Ian Thonger wrote:
One thing of recent note concerns the late Valerie Beere, my Mother's sister. She was an artist who specialised in portrait painting. In the early 1950's while living and working in London she painted a portrait of Sir Charles Alfred Howard, the Serjeant at Arms in the House of Commons, in his apartment within the Palace of Westminster. (I saw the painting in the apartment at that time.) However as neither he nor the House of Commons purchased the painting from her it remained in her possession and it was taken to New Zealand when she returned there to live in 1960. There it remained until I saw it in her house in 1997. In 1999 I wrote to my MP suggesting that the House of Commons might like to purchase the painting and this suggestion was subsequently approved by the the Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd. Some restoration work had to be undertaken on the painting prior to it being shipped to the UK, and it eventually arrived here in December of 2000, when I delivered it to the Curator of Fine Arts at the House of Commons, by which time Betty Boothroyd had retired and a new Speaker, Michael Martin, appointed. In May 2001 the Government called a General Election, and so the formal acceptance of the painting did not take place until the 30th October 2001. On that day the Speaker held a reception in his apartments, attended by himself, the current Serjeant at Arms, some MP's, staff from the Serjeant's office,and members of our family. The portrait was on display, prior to being hung permanantly in the Serjeant at Arms office. Unfortunately Valerie died in April 2000, before the painting left New Zealand, but I think she was aware that negotiations were in hand to sell the painting to the Palace of Westminster.PS Yes the 'Serjeant at Arms' is spelt with a 'J' not a'G'!
In an attachment to an email, dated February 19, 2003, Sylvia Robertson said:
From 'Notable New Zealanders':
"Born in Wellington. Educated at Marsden Primary School, Marsden Secondary School and Wellington Technical College School of Art. Art classes at Central School, London, Heatherley School of Art, England and the Atelier Grande Chaumiere, Paris.
Member of NZ Academy of Fine Arts.
Recreation - contract bridge.
Born 1879/80 in Wellington. (Most of this information from Who's Who1964)
Attended Wanganui Collegiate School 1888 - 1893; Wellington College;Victoria University of Wellington.
Rep. N Island Hockey 1906; Wellington Lawn Tennis A'ssn 1911.
Admitted as Solicitor 1903; Barrister 1908.
Married Constance May BUTLER in 1913 and had a son, Ian St John BEEREborn in 1914 in Wellington. Divorced about 1940 and she went back toEngland.
Samoan Exped. Force 1914-15, Egypt, France 1915-18; commanded 4thbattalion NZRB 1917-18; decorated 3 times; D.S.O.; commanded 2nd NZInfantry Brigade 1925-29; V.D.; col ret list 1939;
commanded WellingtonDivision HG 1940-45.
Colonel in the Rifle Brigade (WW1)Life member of NZ Olympic Assoc.
Enjoyed Golf.
Married to Gwendoline May RUSSELL in 1941(3503).
Lived at 11 Wade St, Wellington, N2.Died aged 88 in 1968 in Wellington, and buried at Karori Cemetery.
"1914-18 NZ. 23/4 Col.R St J BEERE, Rifle Brig. d. 19 May 1968 ag. 88yrs., and Gwendoline May
BEERE D. 20 Feb. 1986." (12/HC/04/005)
He was 6'4", and was a fighter pilot flying a Hurricane.
Attended Wanganui Collegiate.
Died ub 1939 during WW2, and buried in St Peters, Drayton, Berkshire,England.