ART IN NORWICH & NORFOLK
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Sad news
Sadly, on June 30, David Holgate, renowned Norwich sculptor, letter carver and musician, died after a short illness aged 75.
David was one of Norwich's 'art treasures' and a multi-talented man as well-known for his music as his skill as a craftsman and his open and generous personality.

His funeral was at Norwich Cathedral on 17 July, where he carved to the figures at the West door, St Benedict and Julian of Norwich. You can read my blog about David and his funeral here
You can read more about David and his work in an EDP article written by Joyce Dunbar here.
All shall be well David, RIP. 

David Holgate leaves a lasting legacy in Norwich and a hole in the rich  life of Norwich as we lose one of the treasures of the city.

Picture
Picture
Picture
David Holgate, a renowned Norwich sculptor, letter carver and musician, has died after a short illness aged 75. JOYCE DUNBAR, a dear friend and neighbour, looks fondly back at his rich and varied life.

David was born in April 1939, son of a signwriter and jazz pianist, in a flat in Romford High Street.

With war declared, he was sent to live with an aunt in Blackpool. The family finally regrouped - with the addition of sister, Betty, in Cambridge, where his parents later ran a pub and David became a member of St John’s College choir.

His first ambition was to be a traditional painter, but deterred by the explosion of abstract art at the time, he became instead an apprentice in letter cutting to David Kindersley, who in turn was taught by Eric Gill.

After marriage in 1960 to Anne, an art student, the lure of the pop world proved stronger than the chore of sharpening chisels, and David spent the rest of that heady decade freewheeling between Norfolk, London and Bristol with his music.

There was a spell in a band for Anglia Television, the formation of a group called the Tempos and a flower power group called the Rainbow People (in which his wife sang), making records and TV shows.

He toured Europe until the bubble finally burst and he found himself separated from his family - by now including two children - and working as a door to door salesman selling Kleeneze brushes and polish.

From his home in Aslacton, he gradually eased himself back into his dual career, carving house name plates to be sold in the craft shop in Elm Hill and offered a new job in a jazz band by one of his kleeneze customers.

Part-time teaching at Ipswich Art School gave him a new stability and space to perfect his skills.

Now, nationally regarded as one of our foremost craftsmen, he has a lasting legacy in the statues of Mother Julian and Saint Benedict on the West front of Norwich Cathedral.

His work is also to be found in many buildings and gardens in Norfolk, and in private collections in the UK and abroad. For the last 16 years he worked in a tiny courtyard in the front of his house in Cow Hill, open to all observers.

With his manifold skills and interests, David became a lynchpin in Norwich. He was founder member and chairman of the Norfolk Contemporary Craft Society, served two years as chairman of the Norwich 20 group and on the committee of the Norfolk Contemporary Arts Society, played the double base at gigs and at the Norwich Christmas pantomime and was constantly on call for his technical knowhow in fixing things.

Above all, he was a kind man. No-one was ever turned away from his door or denied help with a problem.

He was not religious, but had a strong sense of the sacred, even in hospital.

David once said: “I like to impress. If I could die an impressive death, I wouldn’t so much mind the dying.”

After an impressive life, David has his wish.

He joins the ranks of the many unnamed stoneworkers who have added so much to this beautiful city over the centuries.

He is survived by his wife, Galina, his first wife Anne and their children, Kate and Matthew, and grandchildren and Philippa Fawcett, his assistant, to whom he has passed on his skills.

*A funeral service is being held at Norwich Cathedral on Thursday July 17th at noon.

Family flowers only but donations if desired for Cancer Research UK may be sent c/o Allcock Funeral Services, Falcon House, 96a City Road, Norwich, NR1 2HD www.allcockfunerals.co.uk/in-memory

*Acknowledgement for information: www.wisearchive.co.uk 


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  • Home
  • Get Art in Norwich
    • Where to find Art in Norwich
    • AiN/MiN by Post
    • Issuu version
  • About
    • Art in Norwich Blog
    • Guardian Article
    • Norfolk Arts Forum news
    • Creative Odyssey
  • Norwich Galleries & groups
    • Partner contact details
    • Anteros Arts
    • Art Fair East
    • Assembly House Online
    • East Gallery NUA
    • Fairhurst Gallery
    • Mandell's Gallery - about >
      • Mandell's Gallery - current
    • n-cas
    • North City
    • Norwich Castle
    • Norwich Cathedral Hostry
    • Norwich University of the Arts
    • Outpost Gallery exhibitions
    • St Mary's Works
    • Tanya Goddard Salon
    • South Asia Collection
    • Sainsbury Centre >
      • Janette Williams
      • Sainsbury Centre Sculpture
    • Shoe Factory Social Club
  • Norfolk Galleries & Groups
    • Bircham Gallery, Holt
    • Cley Contemporary
    • Contemporary and Country >
      • Rock, Paper, Scissors
    • Diss Corn Hall
    • NNAC Norfolk & Norwich Art Circle
    • Holt Art Prize 2021
    • Houghton Hall
    • King's Lynn Festival
    • Norfolk Open Studios
    • original projects; PrimeYarc
    • Paint Out general info >
      • Paint Out Norfolk
    • Raveningham Sculpture Trail
    • School House Gallery
    • Skippings Gallery Gt Yarmouth
    • Wells Maltings
    • Yare Gallery
  • Art Classes
    • Art Society Norwich
    • Wensum Lodge
    • Royal Drawing School
    • Anteros Art Classes
    • Artpocket
    • Nest Project
    • Annette Rolston printmaking
    • Sarah Cannell Workshops
  • Links to partners
    • Original Projects;
    • The Yare Gallery
    • Artists' Studios around Norwich
  • Venue Map
  • Contact us
  • Get Walls
  • Past events
    • Ancient House Thetford
    • X Marks The Spot, Great Yarmouth
    • Time & Tide Drawn to the Coast 2018
    • H2O Art of Wet
    • Houghton Hall Henry Moore >
      • Henry Moore review
    • Paint Out
    • Lonely Arts Club 2016
    • Magnificent Obsessions
    • Norwich Castle Olive Edis
    • The Way We Live Now
    • ADP Riot Tour
    • Norwich Castle Sawdust & Threads
    • Ana Maria Pacheco
    • Hungate exhibition
    • Bacon and the Masters
    • War and Peace
    • Clive Dunn at Theatre Royal
    • John Craske : Threads
    • Art at Norwich Playhouse
    • John Lessore & John Wonnacott
    • Hidden in Plain Sight
    • Mary Spicer at Theatre Royal
    • Masterpieces: Art and East Anglia
    • Masterpieces: Art & East Anglia talks
    • The Tourists
    • En Plein Air
    • Martin Laurance at Mandell's Gallery
    • Wallis exhibition
    • Picasso
    • Studios in Norfolk
    • Norwich 20 Group 70th Anniversary
    • Concrete - an exhibition at NUA
    • SCVA Sense & Sensuality lecture series
    • Nicola Slatter yat Theatre Royal
    • Affordable Art Fair
    • Art Car Boot pictures
    • David Holgate obituary
    • Photography exhibition
  • EAAF Artist Profiles
    • East Anglian Art Fund June Gentle
    • East Anglian Art Fund Alison Henry
    • East Anglian Art Fund Jane Hodgson
    • East Anglian Art Fund John Christie
    • East Anglian Art Fund Red Elders
    • East Anglian Art Fund Julia Cameron
    • East Anglian Art Fund Vanessa Pooley
    • East Anglian Art Fund Kate Walker
    • East Anglian Art Fund Gus Farnes
    • East Anglian Art Fund Tobias Arnup
    • East Anglian Art Fund Tobias Arnup