Change the crew? Why we'll row forever, steady from stroke to bow

1 portrait of Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton

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Change the crew? Why we'll row forever, steady from stroke to bow

by Victor Weisz
pencil, pen and ink and white heightening, published in Evening Standard 5 April 1962
17 7/8 in. x 21 5/8 in. (454 mm x 549 mm)
Given by Lady Ruth Marples, 1980
Primary Collection
NPG 5351

Artistback to top

  • Victor Weisz (1913-1966), 'Vicky'; cartoonist. Artist or producer associated with 15 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.

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This portraitback to top

Vicky's cartoon relates to Macmillan's unexpected cabinet re-shuffle of July 1962 when a number of his most loyal ministers were sacked. Coxed by Harold Macmillan, the 'crew', all of whom held office during Macmillan's early days in power, are (left to right): Quintin Hogg, Ernest Marples, Reginald Maudling, Duncan Duncan-Sandys, Alec Douglas-Home, John Selwyn Lloyd, 'Rab' Butler and Iain Macleod. Given by Lady Ruth Marples, 1980.
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Events of 1962back to top

Current affairs

After a series of by-election defeats, the prime minister, Harold MacMillan organises a drastic cabinet reshuffle, dismissing one third of his cabinet. Liberal MP Jeremy Thorpe's wry comment summed up the desperate action: 'greater love hath no man than this, than to lay down his friends for his life.'
Britain suffers the 'Big Freeze' with no frost-free nights between 22nd December 1962 and 5th March 1963.

Art and science

The Beatles have their first hit with Love Me Do and release their first album Please Please Me.
The new Coventry Cathedral is consecrated and creates a showcase for British artistic talent with the first performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, a wall hanging by Graham Sutherland, stained glass by John Piper, and sculptures by Jacob Epstein and Elizabeth Frink.

International

The world comes to the brink of nuclear war with the Cuban Missile Crisis. In response to the USA's nuclear advantage, the USSR sent missiles to Cuba. The crisis lasted for 12 days before a deal was finally stuck between Khrushchev and Kennedy in which the Cuban missile bases were dismantled in return for the secret removal of US missiles from Turkey.

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