James Henry Govier

Stephen Govier

22 July 2020, 16:05

He was at RAF Medmenham from 1942-1943 and at San Severo, Italy with the Mediterranean Allied Photo Reconnassance Wing until 1945. Biographical details can be found in Post War to Post Modern A Dictionary of Artists in Wales by Peter W Jones and Isabel Hitchman 2015. Minerva Transactions for the Royal Institute of South Wales, Artists of Loughor by Dylan Rees 1998. A Gower Artist,The Gower Journal 1992. The Printmakers Journal. Reflections of East Anglia 1991.

Stephen Govier

17 May 2020, 11:16

James Henry Govier [1910-1974] was the only son of Henry Govier and Mary Ann Measey of Oakley, Buckinghamshire, The Govier family moved to Gorseinon, South Wales in 1914 and James attended Swansea Art School [1930-1935] under William Grant Murray. He then gained a scholarship to attend the Royal College of Art [1936-1939] and joined the Engraving School and was tutored by Malcolm Osborne and Robert Austin. In 1939 he was the etching demonstrator at the Royal College of Art until he joined the Royal Engineers in 1940. In 1942 he was seconded to the RAF Model Making Section based at RAF Medmenham which produced models of the D-Day Landings, Monte Casino, North Africa, Italy and the Dambuster Raids. After the 2nd World War he taught art at Eye Grammar School in Suffolk [1946-1965] and at Diss Grammar School [1965-1972].

In April 1950 he was married to Freda Muriel Tye [1930-1982] from Hoxne, Suffolk who was an art student at Ipswich Art School. His work can be found in a number of museums in England and Wales. Details about him can be found on the Suffolk Artists website and the Hoxne Heritage Website. The portrait of my father is taken from a self portrait in pencil when he was circa 15 years of age.