In the summer of 2008 the Malvern Branch Society was created, with R. John Croft FCA an Honorary member and Patron, mainly due to the strenuous and enthusiastic efforts of Heather Whatley (Branch Chair, heather@dsl.pipex.com) with a small group of like minded enthusiastic people in the area of Colwall village, Herefordshire and Malvern, Worcestershire.
Annual General Meetings are regularly held generally in the month of September of each year in the Colwall village Hall, Herefordshire.

If you are interested in becoming a Malvern Branch member please contact the Branch Society local Membership Secretary - Rosemary Harwood by email rosemary@theharwoods.co.uk and ask for an application form. Annual subscription is £10 per member.

Branch News

Recent Events:

Coach Trips:
The Branch has over the past arranged several coach trips for members.
August 2009: Nottingham: Nottingham Castle Museum, a guided tour for 45 members to view 21 works of Laura Knight and 23 works of Harold Knight held at the Museum.
February 2010: Birmingham: Birmingham Museums and Gallery, a guided tour of over 17 works of Dame Laura Knight owned by the Gallery or held on loan.
February 2011: London: Royal Academy of Art, a guided tour of 9 completed or partly completed oil paintings; several sketch books and other memorabilia of Dame Laura Knight.
May 2011: For the visiting members of the Lamorna Society, a coach trip and walk around Colwall and surrounding areas identifying past places of residence and the studios of the artists; and visiting landscapes of scenes painted by the artist; organised and conducted by John Bishop, a member of the farming family often painted by Laura Knight.
John Bishop gave a similar conducted trip to the Branch members in July 2010.

Invitation to members of The Lamorna Society: May 2011. The Branch made an invitation to members of the Lamorna Society to attend a 3 day weekend of events in and around Malvern that included two talks, local walks and visits to local places of interest. 32 members of the Lamorna Society accepted the invitation and it is believed that they all had a good and memorable time.
New friends and acquaintanceships were made, helped by luncheons in local hostelries ending up with a dinner in the hotel where the artists stayed during the 2nd World War.

Plaques:
December 2008: Entirely as a result of the Branches' efforts, a plaque was put up on The Colwall Park Hotel, in Colwall, commemorating that the artists spent a good deal of their post WW2 vacation times there until Harold Knight's death in 1961.
April 2010: The Malvern Civic Society arranged for a National Heritage Blue Plaque to be put on the outside of the Mount Pleasant Hotel in Malvern to commemorate that the artists spent their vacations at this hotel during the 1920's and 1930's.
Appreciation is given to Brian Iles for his drive in making this memorable achievement.

Illustrated Talks:
Talks on the artist organised by the Branch, generally held in the Colwall Village Hall, near Malvern, unless stated otherwise, over the past 3 years include:
June 2008: R. John Croft FCA. A talk on his great aunt - Dame Laura Knight. The Branch's first speaker to assist in the creation of the Branch and membership.
October 2008: Alison Bevan, Director of Penlee House Gallery and Museum held at the Worcester Art Gallery - Laura Knight and women artists in Cornwall.
March 2009: Alison Bevan, Dame Laura Knight and the Newlyn School.
October 2009: Dr. Pamela Gerrish Nunn, Associate Professor of Art History, University of Nottingham held at the Coach House Theatre, Malvern - Laura Knight work from her time in Nottingham to Cornwall.
May 2010: Dr. Alice Strickland - Laura Knight as a War artist.
October 2010: Neil Walker, Visual Art Collector at the Djanogly Art Gallery, University of Nottingham held at The Coach House Theatre, Malvern. - Laura Knight work from her time in Nottingham to Cornwall.
November 2010: Dr. Alice Strickland - Laura Knight and the Ballet Russes
May 2011: David Evans - Harold and Laura Knight. A Partnership of Painters.
May 2011: R. John Croft FCA - Laura Knight in the period of her time in Malvern.
October 2011: Dr Alice Strickland    Laura Knight – A Circus painter. Also Professor Kenneth McConkey – Binary stars, the Knights, their contempories and the Edwardian Summer.
March 2012: Alison Miles, Staiths resident Staithes and Artist's community. Tickets £5 each ( members £3)

Thanks are given to Peter Smith MBS, Director of The Autumn in Malvern Festival for continuously providing great support for the Branch talks.

Proposed Future Events and Talks:
Illustrated Talks:
25th May 2012: "Staithes - A Community of Painters" a talk by Alison Milnes at the Guesten Room at Lyttleton Well, Church Street, Great Malvern at 7:30pm. Refreshments available, tickets £5 (members £3)
23rd June 2012: Strawberry tea in the gardens of Murray and Marie Forsyth at Blackmore House, Blackmore Lane, Malvern. This will be a summer fundraiser for the Society which will include a Summer Hat competition. More details from Lyn Marie Chapman on 07773534409.
Sept/Oct 2012: Date to be confirmed. Symposium by Philippa Tinsley on Dame Laura Knight’s oil painting “ The Yellow dress” held at Worcester Public Gallery.
24th September 2012: FODLKS Malvern & Colwall Branch AGM at Guesten Hall, Lyttleton Well, Vhurch Street, Great Malvern. The short formal meeting will be followed by a talk by Merlith Morrison-Hutton, a local artist. Further details available from Gwyn Klee on 01684 562114.
13th October 2012: Autumn in Malvern Festival & The Friends of Dame Laura Knight Society proudly present a lecture by David Tovey entitled "The Knights and their St. Ives Connections" at Colwall Village Hall. More details will be published closer to the event.
17th November 2012: (Revised Date) "Dame Laura Knight in the Open Air" an exhibition at Worcester Museum and Art Gallery. Special preview for The Friends of Dame Laura Knight Society. More details from Heather Watley on 01684 561592.
Spring 2013: Trip to Staithes and Newcastle.