For the Duration: A Lighthearted WAAF Memoir

Felicity Ashbee: A Chronology

FELICITY ASHBEE: a chronology • APPENDIXES • BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SUGGESTED READINGS 40. Felicity Ashbee, woodcut. 1940. An illustration in the second number of the short-lived WAAF magazine “issued” by her and ACW Pyddoke at HQC during the first winter of the war. 175 Felicity Ashbee a chronology 1913 22 Feb. Born at the Norman Chapel, Broad Campden, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, UK, second of four daughters of the architect and designer Charles Robert Ashbee and his wife, Janet (neé Forbes). Ashbee had moved his Guild of Handicraft from the East End of London to Chipping Campden in 1902. 1919 Moved with family to Jerusalem, where her father was an urban planner for British Mandate Palestine; attended American Colony School (See Child in Jerusalem). 1923–24 Moved to Forbes family home, Godden Green, Sevenoaks, Kent. Attended Mme. Honoré Kippington’s Day School in Sevenoaks, Kent; then Miss de Ville’s “Dame School.” 1925–28 Attended Crofton Grange School, a boarding school, near Orpington, Kent. 1930 Sent to Hamburg, Germany, for a year to round out her education. 1931 At the end of her year of studies, her father flew her back to London’s Croydon Aerodrome. This began her interest in flight. 1932–36 Attended Byam Shaw School of Art in Kensington, London, where she trained as a painter. 1936 First trip to Russia 1937–38 Designed Spanish Civil War posters. Joined Communist Party. 1938 Her painting The Boatmen hung in the Royal Academy Summer show. 1939 3 Sept. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declared war on Germany. 176 | Felicity Ashbee: A Chronology 14 Sept. Enlisted in Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). Stationed at Bentley Priory, near Stanmore, Middlesex, as Filter Room (radar) teller. 1940 Produced the first of her many shows, Filtered Fragments, to entertain the troops, which she did until she left the WAAF (see appendix B). 1941 Transferred to Intelligence and posted to Station X, Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire. 29 June. Discharged as Corporal. Commissioned as Sections Officer. Posted to Loughborough, Leicestershire for onemonth Administration Course. 1942 23 May. Her father, C. R. Ashbee, died. Aug. Transferred to RAF Middle Wallop Fighter Bomber Station, Broughton, Hampshire. Assigned supervision of WAAF. 1943 Posted to Windermere in the Lake District for a one-month refresher course. Posted to RAF Newbold Revel, Warwickshire. Posted to RAF Ottercops Moss, Northumberland, a remote rural Chain Home radar post northwest of Newcastle near Hadrian’s Wall. 1944 Posted to RAF Stenigot, near Donington on Bain, Lincolnshire. Promoted to Flight Officer. 1945 February. Posted to RAF Cranwell, Sleaford. 8 May. VE Day. 17 Aug. VJ Day. 1946 25 July. Discharged from WAAF. Given ₤16 gratuity pay. With the help of her sister Helen, secured a job with a Manchester textile firm where she organized a small team of art workers to hand-paint short runs of silk scarves. Worked as freelance artist, designing textiles. 1947 Moved to no. 71 Strand on the Green, London, sharing a flat with Mary Murphy. 1948 Part-time teacher of art at Staveley Road County Secondary Modern Boys’ School, Chiswick. Felicity Ashbee: A Chronology | 177 1949 19 Sept. Part-time teacher of art for one year at Balmoral Road Secondary Modern School. 1950 April. Enrolled in Cooper’s Hill Government Emergency Training College. Forced to withdraw in December after an accident to her knee during compulsory physical training. The school offered to let her begin again but she could not afford to continue training. Moved to 292 Edgware Road, London. Specialized in drawings of children. Began annual summer holiday travels (until 1998) to the Continent, including Italy, Spain, Greece, Yugoslavia, Turkey, North Africa, France, Poland, and Norway. 1951 11 May. Accepted post as visiting arts and crafts mistress at Crofton Grange School for Girls, Hertfordshire. A testimonial letter in December 1957 stated that she had taught there for six and a half years. She had attended this school as a girl. The school had moved from Kent in 1968. 1952 Illustrated Betty MacDonald’s Nancy and Plum (London: Hammond & Hammond). 1954 London Council School evening instructor of painting and drawing. 1959 Began teaching art three days a week at Queen’s Gate School, London. Served on editorial committee of The Lot, Queen’s Gate yearbook. 1959–61 Taught part-time for Paddington Recreational Institute: Teddy Boys’ Club 1959–60; First Feathers Club 1960–61; Moberly School for one...