Evening of Life

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
Written by George Woolliscroft Deakin

My mother, Minnie Deakin (M.D.),nee Rhead commissioned these stained glass windows from a former student ( J.A. Lovatt 1922) of my grandfather George Woolliscroft Rhead senior. They faithfully represent G.W.Rhead (G.W.R.) and his wife Fanny (F.R.) and these initials appear in the corners.
The stained glass was placed in a window at Laburnum Cottage, Clayton, Newcastle, Staffordshire where Mother and Father lived , and which was a former residence of G.W. Rhead.
The artist used as model a photograph of the two grandparents sitting side by side. This photo was taken by my father Charles Henry Deakin who was a professional photographer.
The same, or similar photos were used by my uncle Fred Rhead when he modelled the pate sur pate plaques, one of them on the headstone of the grave in Newcastle cemetery where G.W. Rhead , Frances Rhead and Minnie Deakin are buried. The second pate sur pate plaque is in the possession of my youngest daughter Sylvia Shopland.
My Rhead grandparents were a most affectionate couple and I always like to look at their portraits – ancestor worship perhaps.
Signed George Woolliscroft Deakin

The pate sur pate plaque mentioned is now the property of Alice Shopland, older daughter of Sylvia and the stained glass panels are now owned by Suzanne Shopland, younger daughter of Sylvia.

WORK IN PROGRESS

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