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| Myrtle Blair obituary | Myrtle Blair obituary |
| (7 months later) | |
| Thomas Blair | |
| Sun 18 Jun 2017 17.06 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 22.30 GMT | |
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| My wife, Myrtle Blair, who has died aged 90, was an African-American artist and community advocate living in Hertford in the UK. Her floral sketches and waterside scenes display her unique experience and reflect the town’s growing confidence as a cultural centre. | My wife, Myrtle Blair, who has died aged 90, was an African-American artist and community advocate living in Hertford in the UK. Her floral sketches and waterside scenes display her unique experience and reflect the town’s growing confidence as a cultural centre. |
| In her most productive years, from 1980 to 1995, she gained awards and patrons for her paintings of the town’s hidden gardens. Myrtle’s cheery children’s book illustrations and Christmas cards show her caring spirit. | In her most productive years, from 1980 to 1995, she gained awards and patrons for her paintings of the town’s hidden gardens. Myrtle’s cheery children’s book illustrations and Christmas cards show her caring spirit. |
| The first of 11 children, Myrtle was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, to a long-established New England family. Her father, Stanley Desmond, was a factory machinist; her mother, Ethel (nee Ward), was a homemaker. | The first of 11 children, Myrtle was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, to a long-established New England family. Her father, Stanley Desmond, was a factory machinist; her mother, Ethel (nee Ward), was a homemaker. |
| At the Classical high school, Springfield, Massachusetts, Myrtle displayed her artistic talent. She went on to the Massachusetts School of Art and then won a place at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston. We met in 1950 at a students’ party in the city, and married in 1953. Myrtle entered the Art Students’ League in vibrant 50s New York. She sketched life on the city streets, tutored by the artist Reginald Marsh. | At the Classical high school, Springfield, Massachusetts, Myrtle displayed her artistic talent. She went on to the Massachusetts School of Art and then won a place at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston. We met in 1950 at a students’ party in the city, and married in 1953. Myrtle entered the Art Students’ League in vibrant 50s New York. She sketched life on the city streets, tutored by the artist Reginald Marsh. |
| Then followed a period in which we travelled and taught. Myrtle lectured at Ahmadu Bello University in northern Nigeria, then, in postcolonial Algeria, designed development posters for government agencies. “One such [poster] depicted the liberated population, young and old, marching joyfully towards a new age of literacy for all,” wrote Eve Sangster in her oral history book West Street, Hertford, the First Two Thousand Years, describing Myrtle’s contribution to art and design in postcolonial Africa. | Then followed a period in which we travelled and taught. Myrtle lectured at Ahmadu Bello University in northern Nigeria, then, in postcolonial Algeria, designed development posters for government agencies. “One such [poster] depicted the liberated population, young and old, marching joyfully towards a new age of literacy for all,” wrote Eve Sangster in her oral history book West Street, Hertford, the First Two Thousand Years, describing Myrtle’s contribution to art and design in postcolonial Africa. |
| In the 60s era of black power, Myrtle cut a striking figure – close-cropped hair, simple smocks, proud and Afrocentric. However, this urban American perspective ended when Myrtle settled in the UK with me and our four daughters. I had a post in London as a sociology lecturer and town planner, and a colleague had suggested Hertford as a pleasant historic town within easy commuting reach. | In the 60s era of black power, Myrtle cut a striking figure – close-cropped hair, simple smocks, proud and Afrocentric. However, this urban American perspective ended when Myrtle settled in the UK with me and our four daughters. I had a post in London as a sociology lecturer and town planner, and a colleague had suggested Hertford as a pleasant historic town within easy commuting reach. |
| Ever mindful of her children’s future, Myrtle quickly gained a network of friendships with residents and schools. Myrtle’s art embodies the Hertford sentiment that “to live elsewhere would be to settle for less”. In the mid-70s she exhibited at Hertford museum with fellow watercolourists Trevor Chamberlain and Julie Harrison. | Ever mindful of her children’s future, Myrtle quickly gained a network of friendships with residents and schools. Myrtle’s art embodies the Hertford sentiment that “to live elsewhere would be to settle for less”. In the mid-70s she exhibited at Hertford museum with fellow watercolourists Trevor Chamberlain and Julie Harrison. |
| As a leading member of the local residents’ association and of the Hertford Civic Society, Myrtle helped neighbours safeguard West Street, the old Roman road on which we lived. Our co-written booklet Hertford Sketches (2016) is in the town library, tourist office, and Hertford museum. | As a leading member of the local residents’ association and of the Hertford Civic Society, Myrtle helped neighbours safeguard West Street, the old Roman road on which we lived. Our co-written booklet Hertford Sketches (2016) is in the town library, tourist office, and Hertford museum. |
| Myrtle is survived by me; our daughters, Lucille, Katharine, Gage and Ellen; our grandchildren, Liam, Sam, Indigo, Lottie and Max; two great-grandchildren; four sisters, Sheila, Joan, Diane and Jacqueline; and a brother, William. | Myrtle is survived by me; our daughters, Lucille, Katharine, Gage and Ellen; our grandchildren, Liam, Sam, Indigo, Lottie and Max; two great-grandchildren; four sisters, Sheila, Joan, Diane and Jacqueline; and a brother, William. |
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