More re John Rees

A reaction to our recent article – ‘Illustrated Memories by John Rees’

It is always good to get positive feedback from articles on the RDN, Resolven Village website and it was particularly gratifying for the Editor to receive the following e-mail:-

“The recent  article on John Rees and his artistic contributions to the Resolven Community,  has left me with considerable family nostalgia and “Hiraeth”, and induced in me even more  proud memories that are firmly entrenched in my locker. It is particularly poignant, as the message comes to you from far away Canada, specifically ,Victoria, British Columbia.

I am John’s younger brother, Alun, who emigrated to Canada in 1963.

As I returned to Wales to participate in John’s Celebration of Life, I was privileged to be able to offer his Eulogy that morning in 2012. At one stage, I asked a rather large gathering to make a show of hands, of all those who had some form of John’s art on display in their homes.  It was a staggering sight to see a mass of hands, so deep into the room,  it was beyond the ability of anyone to have counted his contributions, all of which were freely given. I was so proud that all my personal family had made the journey from Canada, and they were no exception, as John’s art and artistic humour embraces the walls of their homes, and many more homes here in Canada.

Caryl, John’s  wife, and all their family in the Neath /Resolven/Buckinhampshire area, must take equal pride in your resurrections of a very talented Welsh artist, who embraced humour as if it were his normal breakfast food.

Diolch.

Alun Rees and family……Canada. October, 2024.”

We thanked Alun for his e-mail and started an e-mail conversation with him and the following is one of the stories relayed to us in Alun’s own words :-

“……………….. there is one story that I must share with you, as it says so much about the man as it does the artist.

John and Caryl visited the other Rees family in Victoria BC Canada in 1993.  As you probably  know, he loved walking the hills surrounding Resolven , and they were his specialty. He suggested one morning that I join him for a walk, and I agreed.  Instead of a pleasant walk along the beachfront here in Victoria, he chose to walk about 8kms through the middle of URBAN Victoria.   Along the way, he spotted an attractive-looking Victoria -age house, and as was his passion, he started to sketch the house in his notepad.    Within minutes, the lady of the house came across the road and asked if she could see what John was etching.  She was so impressed that she asked him if he could manage a painting of their home in either watercolour or oil.   He mumbled something about not having his materials with him in Canada, but he nevertheless agreed.  She said she would pay him for the finished work.   John immediately dragged me to the nearest art shop and within  two days he had completed a beautiful watercolour painting of her home. When we knocked at the door, and john showed her his artwork, I can honestly say that she genuinely had tears in her eyes, before saying to John that it was worth $3,000 to her, but she could not pay more. (I immediately thought that this would cover his expenses from the art shop and probably pay for his holiday).   I was excited.  But John turned to her and said, ” Madam , if you like my work, I am privileged and proud, and I would be glad to donate it to you”…  and he did.   End of story.

An unbelievable gesture, that I hope illustrates the man over the artist, although at times they were inseparable.”

From Lt to Rt: John, Caryl, Gill (Alun’s Wife) and Alun Rees – Picture taken in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
This is the most recent photo’ taken of the Rees’s at Swansea marina with John, Gill and Alun
Photograph taken of the Rees Family in front of John’s wall mural at Resolven Rugby Club

Thanks for the photographs supplied by Mrs Caryl Rees

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