The Rotherham District Civic Society placed a blue plaque on Doncaster Road Junior and Infants School now East Dene Primary School on 25th October 2018. This was to commemorate Peter Bartle, a self-taught artist who was born in 1932 and died in 2006. Peter was a pupil at the school in the 1930s and 40s.
KODAK Digital Still Camera
The school were delighted to have the plaque to commemorate Peter, and decided that the children would be involved in a project dedicated to Peter’s art work.
Peter mainly painted Rotherham in the 1950s and 1960s — his subject was steam trains and various scenes of Scarborough and Filey, where he was a signalman when he did his paintings.
Two weeks prior to the plaque being unveiled the children were shown some of his artwork, and each class was asked to choose a painting themselves.
The day before the plaque was unveiled Barbara and Ralph Bartle, Peter’s brother and sister-in-law, were invited to the school to view the children’s work. They had a lovely afternoon; the children were so excited and had produced some super work. One little girl read a lovely story she had written about Peter, that brought a tear to their eye. The children were so proud, and very so well behaved, they were a credit to the school.
On 25th October the plaque was unveiled by Ralph and Joan, Peter’s brother and sister. Members of the School Council, together with the Executive Head Mr Young, the Head, Mrs Ridge, the Chairman of Governors, Mr Ray Griffiths and members of Rotherham District Civic Society were there. Other members of Peter’s family attended, as did some of Peters old friends and workmates from his time working on the railways.
Ralph said: “We were so proud that day, one we will always treasure.”