Pickering History

Popped into the Memorial Hall to take this photograph for cake loving Blippers.

On Christmas Eve 1943 300 children were invited to a party in the Memorial Hall. It was organised by the Welsh Guards who were based in Pickering. The hall was decorated with murals of Father Christmas on his sleigh, children ice skating and children eating cakes. There were also two wooden panels painted with caricatures of Welsh Guards. All painted by a Welsh Guard officer one Rex Whistler.

The Welsh Guard panels ended up in a skip but were rescued and are now on display in a local museum. Of the murals only this one survived.

Rex Whistler left Pickering in May 1944 and was killed in action on the first day of the D day landings in Normandy July 1944.

I knew of the mural and who painted it but only research revealed the story behind it. Will now have to track down the panels.