Epilogue
Following the previous entry (work 27) John's correspondence with the Torpoint Art Service ceased. After six weeks without contact the Torpoint Art Service went to Carbiele Wharf to find John. The information we received was that John and his family had taken a trip to Sweden and that at some point John had returned alone and informed Mr Huggins of his intention to sell the boat and move permanently to Sweden. According to Little Pete1, on returning from Sweden John spent two days working on the boat, painting the hull black, repairing odds and ends, clearing the decks before leaving on the third day in a van packed with boxes. A look through the window of the Olympic2 confirmed that it was uninhabited and an attempt was made to access the vessel3 but Mr. Huggins would not allow it on the grounds that he would only let potential buyers on the boat.4 Mr Huggins did grant access to John's unit/studio which we were informed was full of rubbish and that John owed two months rent.5
The Torpoint Art Service searched through the discarded art materials and general bric a brac6 (including a partially dismantled upright piano likely to feature in Work 19) revealing five unseen paintings and several large sketches. Of the five paintings only one can be dated with any certainty and that is View of the Olympic painted on the day of John's departure. This has been confirmed by three separate sources, Mickey, Les7 and Mr Huggins who all saw John sitting on the floor of one of the central pontoons at work on the painting. Two others can be dated roughly. According to both George and Jeff, Boats in the Yard, was painted "a day or two" before John left for Sweden8 and according to Nick, John painted Top Deck of the Olympic "about a month ago"9.
View of the Olympic
Boats in the Yard
Top Deck of the Olympic
It is highly likely, based on an examination of technique10, that View of the Old Ambulance Building was painted in the early stages of the project although no mention of the picture was made in correspondence. The Self Portrait is executed with more confidence and vigour and is likely to have been painted after work 20, Self Portrait in Grey Hat. The distinctive diagonal in the background does not appear to be a feature of the Olympic or the studio interiors and perhaps suggests an attic11.
View of the Old Ambulance Building
Self Portrait
Of the three large drawings two can be dated with a degree of certainty12. Firstly what would seem to be a preparatory drawing for View Of the Olympic can be roughly placed in the two of three days before John's departure for Sweden. Both Tim and Bob confirm this based on their recollection of shouting over to John from the top deck of the Albacore as John was working.13 The drawing of an engine can also be placed few days prior to John's departure on account of both Ana and Michael trying to speak to John14 who was sitting on a bucket between boats working on the drawing.
The third drawing is more difficult to place in the timeline. It shows two blossoming apple trees in front of barn, a hammock is strung between the trees. It is our assumption that this drawing was made in Sweden but it is not possible to ascertain even a rough date.15 It could have been executed during John's most recent trip but it is unlikely that John would bring it back and then discard it in the unit. This leaves two possibilities; the drawing precedes the Torpoint Art Service project or, two, it was made on a trip to Sweden during the project. The Torpoint Art Service was not informed about a visit to Sweden by John16 but there was several gaps in correspondence that could potentially have been due to John being away.
The Torpoint Art Service was given full access to John's studio and its contents on the condition that it was cleared out and any outstanding rent settled which I immediately settled.17 As regards to what exactly led to John's sudden disappearance and why no communication with the Torpoint Art Service was made we can only speculate. John had recently been verbally abused while out painting and there was also some friction between John and the Torpoint Art Service over a technical issue suffered. Was this enough for John abandon the project?18
Based on interviews with Mr Huggins and residentials it would seem that John left for Sweden approximately one week after completing work 27 spending just over three weeks away before returning for three days before apparently emigrating to Sweden. It appears John left just over one week before our arrival at Carbiele Wharf. It's not clear if he'll ever come back but the project appears to be settled pending contact from John and a renewal of the I.D.S fund which will soon be exhausted...
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*Now that many years have past I hope you will let me put the record straight with a few notes of my own.
1. Thanks a lot Pete! I asked you expressly to refrain from revealing my movements and activities to any strangers who came looking.
2. How dare you!
3. How dare you !!
4. Good old Mr. H. Firm but fair.
5. Curse you Huggins and your slumlord ways!! We discussed delayed payment on the outstanding rent!
6. Is that so? I bet you had a right good rummage!
7. So you spoke to Mickey and Les about me too?
8. Not true! Jeff is too obsessed by his own boat to notice and George doesn't know whats going on.
9. He's fobbed you off there, well done Nick.
10. You mean you looked at it. You don't know the first thing about what its like to be 'sur le motif'.
11. I'll give you that one. It was painted in the attic room of my parents house in Plymouth.
12. Here we go...
13. Really? I thought we were friends. Did the TAS pay for this information?
14. I have given those two Polish scoundrels short shrift since the portrait debacle and I make no apologies for it!
15. My lips are sealed.
16 Honestly! I agree to tackle your residency and you think that means I'll tell you of my every intention and action?
17. You Villain! If I had known this at the time I would have considered my options!
18. Look into your institutional mirror for the answer to that one. It started out well and you were giving it the big liberal bit about a serious issue at crisis time but you slowly revealed your discipline. I think you had an idea of what you wanted and when I didn't play ball you turned the screw. One turn too many!