we got the call and lawrences archive is officially being preserved for the future. i am honestly blown away that the council listened to us and im so grateful for everyone who helped keep this history alive. now we just watch to make sure the transfer happens smooth and quick.
March 9, 2020
Final supporters
To:
Miss Sarah Ormond-Walshe
HM Senior Coroner, South London
Cllr Steve Cook
Mayor of Sutton
Cllr Ruth Dombey OBE
Council Leader London Borough of Sutton
Ms Helen Bailey
Chief Executive London Borough of Sutton
The artist and poet Lawrence Upton had no Next of Kin as far as any of his friends are aware. An article posted by Riley Krause on 24th February in the Sutton and Croydon Guardian entitled, “Touching tributes to Carshalton man who was a 'leading figure in the British Poetry Revival'” indicates the importance of moving as swiftly as possible to secure Lawrence’s archive material and ensure that it is held for future scholars and practitioners. Lawrence was extremely well regarded by academics and fellow artists around the world although he never gained commercial success in his lifetime. The documents and letters in his house will contain materials that are invaluable and irreplaceable reference materials for scholars and practitioners alike. Richard Price (Head of the British Contemporary Collections at the British Library) has already expressed an interest in material concerning Bob Cobbing and Alaric Sumner. Lawrence worked closely with both of these artists before their deaths. Goldsmiths University has expressed interest in Lawrence’s materials as a prominent artist in his own right.
We are distressed at the thought that over half a century of artistic endeavour may end up in the landfill if his case is referred to the Local Authority and he is declared intestate. If anything can done to facilitate a search of the premises for a will his executor Tina Bass would be very grateful or, if his possessions do become property of the Local Authority, allowing removal of his documents and papers by his friends so that works that are of national importance can be archived.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
February 29, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
February 28, 2020
235 Comments
Lawrence was the fierce and passionate custodian of a wide-ranging poetry archive. He is the connection between many extraordinary writers, esp. in relation to his celebrated creative partnership with Bob Cobbing and the Writers Forum network. Please protect this archive treasure.
If the valuables at stake were in the form of cash or jewellery, no doubt it would be possible to rescue them. Please recognise the value of unique archive material and allow it to be assessed and saved if necessary.
London Borough of Sutton has not been remiss in the preservation of Frank Dickinson's house and in celebrating Mervyn Peake's residency in Carshalton; might they have an interest in Upton's work too? In any case please let the archive be preserved.
I would be personally most interested in seeing Lawrence Upton's papers preserved, as they include the (unique) camera-ready copy of a book I edited which has never appeared; and now never can, unless these important papers are safely secured!
Thank you for this, Cris. I made a promise to Lawrence that I would care for his documents and ensure that they went to the British Library and other collections such as the one at the University of Goldsmiths. I would like to be able to fulfil that promise. Dr Tina Bass
I fully support this petition's aim seeking to ensure the preservation and archiving of Lawrence Upton's work, the loss of this body of work which is an intrinsically significant archive within a remarkable and transitional artistic epoch would be a matter of profound regret in terms of its inherent value and the loss to the wider public of such a milestone in our greater cultural heritage.
Lawrence Upton was an integral part of a cultural community that future generations will need to explore to understand their heritage and to enrich themselves ‘spiritually’, if you will. For the reputation of his own works and his correspondence with those already firmly placed in English culture it is crucial to be able to access and archive the materials he has left to our care.
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we got the call and lawrences archive is officially being preserved for the future. i am honestly blown away that the council listened to us and im so grateful for everyone who helped keep this history alive. now we just watch to make sure the transfer happens smooth and quick.
March 9, 2020
Final supporters
To:
Miss Sarah Ormond-Walshe
HM Senior Coroner, South London
Cllr Steve Cook
Mayor of Sutton
Cllr Ruth Dombey OBE
Council Leader London Borough of Sutton
Ms Helen Bailey
Chief Executive London Borough of Sutton
The artist and poet Lawrence Upton had no Next of Kin as far as any of his friends are aware. An article posted by Riley Krause on 24th February in the Sutton and Croydon Guardian entitled, “Touching tributes to Carshalton man who was a 'leading figure in the British Poetry Revival'” indicates the importance of moving as swiftly as possible to secure Lawrence’s archive material and ensure that it is held for future scholars and practitioners. Lawrence was extremely well regarded by academics and fellow artists around the world although he never gained commercial success in his lifetime. The documents and letters in his house will contain materials that are invaluable and irreplaceable reference materials for scholars and practitioners alike. Richard Price (Head of the British Contemporary Collections at the British Library) has already expressed an interest in material concerning Bob Cobbing and Alaric Sumner. Lawrence worked closely with both of these artists before their deaths. Goldsmiths University has expressed interest in Lawrence’s materials as a prominent artist in his own right.
We are distressed at the thought that over half a century of artistic endeavour may end up in the landfill if his case is referred to the Local Authority and he is declared intestate. If anything can done to facilitate a search of the premises for a will his executor Tina Bass would be very grateful or, if his possessions do become property of the Local Authority, allowing removal of his documents and papers by his friends so that works that are of national importance can be archived.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
February 29, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
February 28, 2020
235 Comments
Do not let his work & archive perish. Lawrence was a vital part of the performance-Sound-poetry scene in London when I met him and his collaborators (Cobbing, Fencott, Cheek, Griffiths, etc.) in the 70s. There must be material historically relevant to the UK poetry scene.
Lawrence was the fierce and passionate custodian of a wide-ranging poetry archive. He is the connection between many extraordinary writers, esp. in relation to his celebrated creative partnership with Bob Cobbing and the Writers Forum network. Please protect this archive treasure.
If the valuables at stake were in the form of cash or jewellery, no doubt it would be possible to rescue them. Please recognise the value of unique archive material and allow it to be assessed and saved if necessary.
London Borough of Sutton has not been remiss in the preservation of Frank Dickinson's house and in celebrating Mervyn Peake's residency in Carshalton; might they have an interest in Upton's work too? In any case please let the archive be preserved.
I would be personally most interested in seeing Lawrence Upton's papers preserved, as they include the (unique) camera-ready copy of a book I edited which has never appeared; and now never can, unless these important papers are safely secured!
Thank you for this, Cris. I made a promise to Lawrence that I would care for his documents and ensure that they went to the British Library and other collections such as the one at the University of Goldsmiths. I would like to be able to fulfil that promise. Dr Tina Bass
I fully support this petition's aim seeking to ensure the preservation and archiving of Lawrence Upton's work, the loss of this body of work which is an intrinsically significant archive within a remarkable and transitional artistic epoch would be a matter of profound regret in terms of its inherent value and the loss to the wider public of such a milestone in our greater cultural heritage.
Lawrence Upton was an integral part of a cultural community that future generations will need to explore to understand their heritage and to enrich themselves ‘spiritually’, if you will. For the reputation of his own works and his correspondence with those already firmly placed in English culture it is crucial to be able to access and archive the materials he has left to our care.
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Do not let his work & archive perish. Lawrence was a vital part of the performance-Sound-poetry scene in London when I met him and his collaborators (Cobbing, Fencott, Cheek, Griffiths, etc.) in the 70s. There must be material historically relevant to the UK poetry scene.