Mexborough and Swinton Times January 20, 1940

Artist Benefactor

Wombwell Scholars’ New Banner for Old

When the children of the Cemetery Road Methodist Church, Wombwell, sing in procession, “Brightly gleams our bans or, pointing to the sky,” they will think their own particular benefactor, Mr. Colin Clarkson, 21 years old artist, son of Mr. Norman Clarkson, an engine finder at Darfield Main Colliery, and Mrs, Clarkson, of “Burfield,” 3, Kingsway, Wombwell.

Without Mr. Clarkson the scholars of that church would not have had a banner at all—at least no banner worth taking in a procession. As an act of kindness Mr. Clarkson has devoted his Christmas vacation to making their old banner look like new. Nov it will be as bright and artistically attractive as anything to be seen in Wombwell Whitsuntide pageant.

It was a stroke of good fortune that brought Mr. Clarkson and the leaders of this Sunday School together. The position before the Sunday School was that the figure of £30 suggested to them as the price of a new banner was as far outside their reach as the moon. By “engaging” Mr. Clarkson they will probably get the job done for what will just about cover the bare cost of materials.

The banner measures about nine feet by seven feet. There is a surround of richly coloured silk with a linen centre for the paintings. The centre is circular, measuring 4ft. 6ins. in diameter. There are two separate studies. On one side is a picture of the “Good Samaritan”, on the other a group showing Christ blessing the children. Both are very lively and colourful. To complete the paintings Mr. Clarkson had the banner suspended from the wall of his sitting room. The work occupied most of his evenings for a month.

Seen by a “Times” reporter, Mr. Clarkson admitted that it had been a rather tricky job, and just a little out of his normal line. He was very glad, however, to know that he had been able to get the church out of a difficulty and to do something to gladden the children.

Mr. Clarkson is studying at the Slade School of Fine Art which has been evacuated from London to Oxford for the duration of the war. Born at Darfield, he won a County Minor Scholarship at King’s Road School, Wombwell, and attended Wath Grammar School. Subsequently the family moved to Upton, and he continued his studies at Hemsworth Grammar School, where at the age of 14.1: lie matriculated.

He won an open scholarship in art offered by Reading University, and a West Riding County Council Junior Art Scholarship. He went to Reading University in 1936 for a four years’ course of study in art, and a year later entered the Slade School on a County Art Scholarship. The possibility of his student career being upset by the war is a prospect he is facing with loyal resignation.