It was Ken Howard’s Memorial Service today, conducted by Ayla Lepine who I discovered had done her PhD on Bodley and Garner – good subject.

The service was unusual in somehow conveying Ken’s infectious and enthusiastic bonhomie, able to paint at incredible speed and to sell everything he painted, as well as lead a very sociable life in London, Cornwall and Venice, in all of which he had studios.   I remember reading his autobiography which was dictated in a few days while he was ill and conveyed what it was like to be trained as an artist in the early 1950s.   He had great skill as a painter – particularly good at conveying sunlight and the streets after rain.  

We were encouraged to raise an imaginary glass in his memory and I assume we all did.