Published: 23/01/2009 00:00 -
Updated: 29/01/2010 12:36
I GUESS I never experienced what cold fingers were till we were photographed the other day by Howard our photographer at 'The Hug' statue as we revealed the designs of this year's leathers!
I think they are credible examples of our artistry and I know the turner ups are pleased with the result!
It was a real treat for me the other day to take the ball around and show it for the first time to Sean Griffin and his daughter Christine.
Sean is a real lovely guy and I know him well through bringing ATFC match reports into the paper, and I was thrilled when I knew he was turning up the ball and that I was painting it!
Sean was over the Irish Sea with the result, and any criticism I may receive for my artistic ability means nothing to me as long as the turner up is pleased with the result, after all, until the ball is goaled, it technically belongs to them!
I try each year to take the ball round schools to show the local children and hopefully make them more aware of our great tradition.
This year Simon and I are going into Clifton School and St Oswald's so far, and I will be going to the Youth Club at the Methodist Church too and have been asked to judge a painting competition where they have designed their own shrovetide balls.
Painting the leathers was a dream come true for me 19 years ago. I never thought as a kid standing on the Shaw Croft wishing I painted them that it would be realised years later.
I think the design on this year's ball is quite different and in some ways unique. I have made the entire circumference of the ball the union flag, incorporating the Irish tricolour underneath.
Four traditional laurel wreathes interlock the four main aspects which are, on the front a painting of an Ashbourne Town Footballer to depict Sean's involvement with the club he helped to revive.
The side panels are linked with a sparkling rainbow trout as Sean is a water bailiff and was a course fisherman himself.
A Fuchsia entitled ' Lady Godiva' rests on the other side, depicting Sean's prize winning interest in these flowers.
The reverse has the traditional imperial state crown. Sean's name, the date and 'God Save The Queen' complete it!
There is subtle tribute in some ways to my favourite ball painter, the late Jack Roberts who lived on St Oswald's Crescent who painted the leathers from 1949 to 1970.
Jack produced some wonderful designs in his tenure as painter, as well as balls for Sir Stanley Mathews, Ted Mault, Reg Parnell, Donald Carr and hosts of local dignitaries and nobility.
He also painted the miniature ball given to Princess Margaret in 1963.
Jack was the grandson of John Barker who painted the Shrove Tuesday leathers for 70 years.
I have in my possession some of Jack's tracings, his original tub of gold size and his brush and font book, these were given to me by his son Tony, and I treasure them.
Jack turned up the second ball in 1954, and this was also spooky goaled by another shrived hero of mine, the late collector, Jack Smith.
I think they are credible examples of our artistry and I know the turner ups are pleased with the result!
It was a real treat for me the other day to take the ball around and show it for the first time to Sean Griffin and his daughter Christine.
Sean is a real lovely guy and I know him well through bringing ATFC match reports into the paper, and I was thrilled when I knew he was turning up the ball and that I was painting it!
Sean was over the Irish Sea with the result, and any criticism I may receive for my artistic ability means nothing to me as long as the turner up is pleased with the result, after all, until the ball is goaled, it technically belongs to them!
I try each year to take the ball round schools to show the local children and hopefully make them more aware of our great tradition.
This year Simon and I are going into Clifton School and St Oswald's so far, and I will be going to the Youth Club at the Methodist Church too and have been asked to judge a painting competition where they have designed their own shrovetide balls.
Painting the leathers was a dream come true for me 19 years ago. I never thought as a kid standing on the Shaw Croft wishing I painted them that it would be realised years later.
I think the design on this year's ball is quite different and in some ways unique. I have made the entire circumference of the ball the union flag, incorporating the Irish tricolour underneath.
Four traditional laurel wreathes interlock the four main aspects which are, on the front a painting of an Ashbourne Town Footballer to depict Sean's involvement with the club he helped to revive.
The side panels are linked with a sparkling rainbow trout as Sean is a water bailiff and was a course fisherman himself.
A Fuchsia entitled ' Lady Godiva' rests on the other side, depicting Sean's prize winning interest in these flowers.
The reverse has the traditional imperial state crown. Sean's name, the date and 'God Save The Queen' complete it!
There is subtle tribute in some ways to my favourite ball painter, the late Jack Roberts who lived on St Oswald's Crescent who painted the leathers from 1949 to 1970.
Jack produced some wonderful designs in his tenure as painter, as well as balls for Sir Stanley Mathews, Ted Mault, Reg Parnell, Donald Carr and hosts of local dignitaries and nobility.
He also painted the miniature ball given to Princess Margaret in 1963.
Jack was the grandson of John Barker who painted the Shrove Tuesday leathers for 70 years.
I have in my possession some of Jack's tracings, his original tub of gold size and his brush and font book, these were given to me by his son Tony, and I treasure them.
Jack turned up the second ball in 1954, and this was also spooky goaled by another shrived hero of mine, the late collector, Jack Smith.
