1915
Born Bingley, West Yorkshire, only son of George Henry Lee and Alice Isobel Wood.
1918
Father killed at third battle of Ypres; brought up by mother and three elder sisters.
1927-1932
Bingley Grammar School
1932-1937
Bradford College of Art, taking examinations in industrial design, drawing and pictorial
design; awarded place at Royal College of Art, drawing instruction from Henry Butler
and design with John F Greenwood. Encouraged in study of the modern movement,
Cezanne and the Post-impressionists, Braque, Klee and the Surrealists became
influences before going to London.
1937-1940
Royal College of Art. Graphic design, book illustration, lithography and wood
engraving.
Tutored by John Nash and Edward Bawden. Life drawing studies
with Vivien Pitchforth and Percy Horton. Visiting tutors, Paul Nash and Eric Ravilious.
Flat in Adelaide Road, Swiss Cottage (‘38/39) next to Stanley Spencer’s temporary
studio; able to see development of Spencer’s works and procedures.
1940
Called into the Royal Artillery Signals, training in North Wales and Somerset.
1941
April, sailed in convoy for Egypt via Cape Town; five months in Cyprus, June-
November;
re-equipped Palestine, November.
1942
January, Western Desert campaign, North Africa. Taken prisoner in Gazala Line, June;
transferred to Italy, P.O.W. camp at Altamura and Fermo July’42 - October ’43.
1943
After capitulation of Italy, transferred to Germany, Stalag IV B, then to Freital, suburb of
Dresden; working camp.
1944
Experienced Bombing of Freital, detailed to bury dead.
1945
February, witnessed the Allied destruction of Dresden. April, marched into
Czechoslovakia with international column of P.O.W.’s by retreating Wehrmacht to
sound
of Russian guns. Liberated by Soviet troops and flown by U.S. Air Force and
R.A.F. to Horsham Sussex.
Married Thelma Barthel. Three daughters Vanessa, Joanna and Saskia.
1946 Demobilised. Returned to Royal College of Art on fourth year scholarship awarded in
1940.
1947 Taught part-time at Hammersmith College of Art. Returned to Yorkshire on appointment
as art master at Heckmondwike Grammar School.
1949 Batley School of Art – later Dewsbury and Batley Technical and Art College. Lecturer in
drawing, graphic design, print making and history of art and design.
1957 Appointed Deputy Head of School.
1969-1979
Bingley College of Education, Principal lecturer in Visual Arts Area – teaching
painting, drawing, graphic design, print making and history of art and design.
Examiner, National College of Art, Dublin (’72 – ’73).
1980-1983
Part time visiting lecturer at Huddersfield Polytechnic, Bretton College and Bradford
and Ilkley College.
1980-2005
Principally involved in equipping and developing personal studio workshop, and
exhibiting as an artist craftsman.
2007
Died in a local nursing home aged 91 years.
Biographical Chronology