Members of Medway-based art group Explore & Draw came together at the Royal Engineers Museum with the purpose of creating this exhibition inspired by what they discovered. Each artist has each responded in their own unique way, some drawing directly from personal connection to the Royal Engineers, or the inspiring stories of others contained within these walls.
In Thy Hands
Luna Zsigo
Acrylic on Canvas
In honour of Albert Edward Beddow (1913-1991) my grandfather
Royal Engineers Special Projects Unit
When I first set out to create this exhibition with Explore & Draw, I had no idea the journey it would lead me on. I believed I had no connection with the Royal Engineers until I discovered quite by chance, that my grandfather was a Royal Engineer himself in the Special Projects Unit. He was meant to fly out to assist with the rebuilding of bridges, when contracting scarlet fever, he was forced to remain behind. If not for this, he would have never come to guard one of our country’s notorious war criminals.
Rudolf Hess – Deputy Führer to Adolf Hitler was imprisoned in this country during the course of WW2 and my grandfather, Albert was one of the many soldiers to guard him.
This is a part of my grandfather’s life that I had no idea about and it made me realise that there is so much more of his past that was a mystery to me and so I began to research more.
I discovered that after the death of his mother (Barbara) when he was just 11 years old, my grandfather Albert was placed into an orphanage by his remaining family. Such places came to be known as ‘Shattered Homes’ where children were known to have suffered terrible abuse and hardship. He rarely talked about his time there.
Aged 15, he was moved to Mr Fegan’s Farm Goudhurst Kent, where his love of the countryside, horses and gardening grew. One of the many memories I have is of him growing a plant from an avocado stone, which has inspired me to do the same and is included in my painting.
After meeting my grandmother, Lily, they married and had three children, my Aunty June, Uncle Terry along with my mother, Barbara, named in honour of his own.
They were the love of his life, as were his grandchildren, of which, I am proud to say, I am one.
My painting to honour his life and memory and to acknowledge the journey from darkness into light.
Explore & Draw at the Royal Engineers Museum runs from 4th April to 25th June
31 March 2023