The Gerrard Chronicles 2003 - September

Ken's plod was supposed to be from Chamonix to Arolla but he only got as far as Sembrancher before his feet gave up with huge blisters. He has since bought new boots! Rather to his surprise, Chamonix is a dump but he walked straight up to Argentière for the night. The next day, he walked up to the Col de Balme, rewarded by the glorious view of Mont Blanc. He dropped down to the Col de la Forclaz, where there were too many English. Then, up to Alpe Bovine for the view down the Rhone Valley & to the Grand Combin before the taxing drop to Champex & long plod down the Great St. Bernard Valley to Sembrancher. He hopes to continue & finish the Chamonix-Zermatt walk next year.

Suddenly three people with paintings by William Daniels contacted us. We visited two of them: one interesting couple who had a small painting of ‘George Grist’ in Highgate for tea. The pub sign of Harry Baleno is in Bognor Regis & we had a delightful day there with a very compatible couple. We are not identifying these people for obvious security reasons. The Baleno, painted in earth colours to survive the Sun, is rather different from his usual style. Another painting turned up in Derbyshire.

Avis has been on a screen-writing course at the City Lit Summer School & is attempting to write a screen play for television or film about the life of William Daniels from the research we did in Liverpool. There is no 'life' as such but a series of anecdotes which seem ideal for a television series. Avis has also been in correspondence with Nicholas Serota, the Tate Director, about the choice of work for the permanent collection.

"George Grist"

"Harry Baleno"

The owners