I can’t remember how many times I helped out, probably only a few times. I did meet some interesting characters, many who like me had just happened to be passing. One rather eccentric character who I do remember very well was an extremely tall slightly lugubrious fellow called Nicholas Rocke. Like many tall people he was very self conscious and to cover his shy nature had developed a rather supercilious, reproving air. I was initially very daunted by this lanky condescending quintessential art collector. I learned over time, with his many visits that he was a passionate advocate of the pottery and really had a soft vulnerable centre. He was a most generous man unique in many ways and perhaps another of those orphans that washed up on the shores of Greendene. Together with his interest in music, he was very much a part of the scene and played and sung on the old piano such favourites as Vaughan Williams and other English composers.
On one of my visits to the stall to my horror, Denis suggested Nicholas could take me home in his car. As I found him rather terrifying, I was some what reluctant to take up the offer, but unable to find an excuse not to, I agreed nervously and got into the front seat with trepidation. Once on our way, he tried to break the ice by asking me about my interest in the pottery and about my painting and I managed some how to talk about my art and my wish to go to art school.
This brings me on to one of my many discussions with Denis while waiting for the curious to come and visit the stall. I had showed him my sketches and he was most generous in his praise. I had mentioned that I wanted to go to art school and he argued against it, sucking on his gauloise cigarette saying, it would force out all my naïve, pure unaffected creativity? It’s something I have never forgotten and often consider how things might have turned out, if I hadn’t ignored his advice. When I consider and look back at Denis’s life style and his approach to his craft, I can understand his feelings and anti establishment stance. He was very much the supporter of the individual and the loner, of the artist who couldn’t sell his work. Technique and style had to be subservient to exploring your craft, being daring, in order to create a work of uniqueness.
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