Art display reunites friends of the ’60s

REUNITED... (from left) Lorraine Brown, Brenda Sumerfield, Christine Sheldon and Jean Wild

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

THE SWINGING ’60s were back in fashion for a group of friends reunited after 40 years by the same works of art.

The pals, who all worked at the former Oldham Library building in Union Street, were snapped in 1968 at the opening of the Arthur Dooley exhibition.

An old photo of the group was featured in the Evening Chronicle last November at the time the current Dooley exhibition opened.

That prompted Lorraine Brown, from Shaw, to get in touch with her former work colleagues and meet up at the all new Gallery Oldham after 40 years. Her friend Jean Wild, also from Shaw, dug out a selection of photos from the day.

Two more pals — Brenda Sumerfield, from Cullingworth in Yorkshire; and Christine Sheldon, from Warwick; also travelled over to to join in the get together.

Grandmother-of-two Mrs Wild said: “Back then we were told we had to be in the photo. It seemed like a good idea at the time. We were thinking of the overtime pay and where we could go out afterwards.”

Gallery Oldham bought several of Liverpool-born Dooley’s works, including Dachau, a ragged figure of the crucified Christ. Dachau was created as a memorial to human suffering and was first shown in a one-man show in Oldham in 1968.

Mrs Sheldon had the privilege of driving the artist, who died in 1994, and his parents to Mumps Railway Station.

She said: “I remember thinking he was very trendy because he was from Liverpool and everything from that city was in fashion.”

Mrs Sumerfield said: “It’s interesting coming back. It definitely means more now. When you’re in your 20s, art doesn’t really mean anything.”

The friends have vowed to keep in-touch.