8th April 1942

Special meeting of the [War Agricultural] Committee called this afternoon to consider the case of Baldwin. This morning I went down to see the National Service Officer about him, and established the fact that he cannot leave in any case under the Essential Works Order. I always feel out of place in the National Service Office, chiefly because I know that one of the thousands of files there is mine.

The Committee talked a long time about Baldwin and finally decided that he ought to have £5 per week plus the rent of his house, which I think is very proper. He is in charge of 150 men, and he could get £6 a week in Paxman’s as a labourer.

Went to the Repertory Co. tonight, saw a play called “Jupiter Laughs”. Not bad, and well done. During the interval took the opportunity of again examining Bale’s drawings. They are really a remarkable series, and it is a shame that no effort whatever has been made to prepare a photographic record of them. Cr. Blomfield promised to see the Deputy Mayor weeks ago, but nothing has yet been done.

Major John Bale had painted a series of watercolours of Colchester in the late 19th century. During the war years, the watercolours were displayed in the Art Gallery in the Albert Hall, which was shared with Colchester Repertory Company. The collection of drawings is now held by Colchester & Ipswich Museums Service.

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