Alain John
Encyclopedia
Alain John, was an aspiring sculptor who joined the RAF
as a navigator, and was killed during the Second World War.
John was educated at Blundell's School
in Tiverton and had passed the entrance to Kings College in 1938 and was told he could travel abroad until term started. John instead chose to return to the School for a term to model a statue for an empty niche in the School tower. He finally chose the Christ in Blessing and Eric Gill
, then a master at the School, said of the clay model that “No finer piece of work has been done by anyone in this country this year”. The original statue remains in place.
John enlisted in the RAF, preferring to fly with friends as a Navigator Sergeant rather than seeking a commission. He undertook a long series of night flights over Germany and died from injuries sustained on a mission.
Neville Gorton
, then Bishop of Coventry
, wrote to the Times on 29 December 1943 to propose that John’s statue be recast as an Air Force Memorial, commenting on the statue that “It is a moving work of faith and tenderness, and of the quality in its faith and its art Eric Gill’s judgement stands”.
The statue was subsequently re-cast at the commission of Neville Gorton
and stands in the ruins of the old Coventry Cathedral
as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the war.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as a navigator, and was killed during the Second World War.
John was educated at Blundell's School
Blundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
in Tiverton and had passed the entrance to Kings College in 1938 and was told he could travel abroad until term started. John instead chose to return to the School for a term to model a statue for an empty niche in the School tower. He finally chose the Christ in Blessing and Eric Gill
Eric Gill
Arthur Eric Rowton Gill was a British sculptor, typeface designer, stonecutter and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement...
, then a master at the School, said of the clay model that “No finer piece of work has been done by anyone in this country this year”. The original statue remains in place.
John enlisted in the RAF, preferring to fly with friends as a Navigator Sergeant rather than seeking a commission. He undertook a long series of night flights over Germany and died from injuries sustained on a mission.
Neville Gorton
Neville Vincent Gorton
Neville Gorton was the 4th bishop of the restored see of Coventry in the modern era. He was born on 1 March 1888, the son of an Anglican Canon and educated at Marlborough College and Balliol College, Oxford, where he was an exhibitioner and Aubrey Moore student...
, then Bishop of Coventry
Bishop of Coventry
The Bishop of Coventry is the Ordinary of the England Diocese of Coventry in the Province of Canterbury. In the Middle Ages, the Bishop of Coventry was a title used by the bishops known today as the Bishop of Lichfield....
, wrote to the Times on 29 December 1943 to propose that John’s statue be recast as an Air Force Memorial, commenting on the statue that “It is a moving work of faith and tenderness, and of the quality in its faith and its art Eric Gill’s judgement stands”.
The statue was subsequently re-cast at the commission of Neville Gorton
Neville Vincent Gorton
Neville Gorton was the 4th bishop of the restored see of Coventry in the modern era. He was born on 1 March 1888, the son of an Anglican Canon and educated at Marlborough College and Balliol College, Oxford, where he was an exhibitioner and Aubrey Moore student...
and stands in the ruins of the old Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral, also known as St Michael's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current bishop is the Right Revd Christopher Cocksworth....
as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the war.
Sources
- Letter to The Times from Neville Gorton, Bishop of CoventryNeville Vincent GortonNeville Gorton was the 4th bishop of the restored see of Coventry in the modern era. He was born on 1 March 1888, the son of an Anglican Canon and educated at Marlborough College and Balliol College, Oxford, where he was an exhibitioner and Aubrey Moore student...
, Wednesday, 29 December, 1943 (pg. 5; Issue 49739; col F) - http://books.google.com.au/books?id=rTVHZAAjoMcC&pg=PA221&lpg=PA221&dq=City+of+Coventry+Libraries,+Arts+and+Museums+Department&source=bl&ots=-vnWQj4Vgq&sig=Wkvfz_eBz8r1pbOHzvpybu5dmto&hl=en&ei=jkK8Sq2uBsiZkQX13qSvDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=alain&f=falsePublic sculpture of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull; Volume 6 of Public sculpture of Britain; George Thomas Noszlopy; 2003;Liverpool University Press - Public Sculpture of Britain; ISBN 0-85323-847-2]