Melton 100-year-old paints pictures for lockdown time capsule

Leslie Posnett, who lives at the town’s Gretton Court sheltered housing complex, has submitted his impressive artwork as part of a virtual time capsule designed to illustrate how people across Leicestershire coped with the challenges of the pandemic.

We reported back in December about how Leslie - who grew up in Frisby and worked as a builder with Denman’s and in maintenance at Pera - was celebrating his milestone birthday.

Just four months later, however, the outbreak of Covid-19 led to Leslie being denied visits from family and friends and also close contact with fellow residents at Gretton Court.

He decided to busy himself doing watercolour paintings based on his old sketch books from family holidays in the distant past.

And to submit them for the digital time capsule, organised by Leicestershire County Council, he has even taught himself to use the internet and to operate a tablet computer with remote guidance from family members.

In his submission to the project, Leslie wrote: “Two months prior to the coronavirus outbreak, I celebrated my 100th birthday.

“Since March 23, 2020, I have been in lockdown unable to go out or to have visitors.

“During this time, I have spent many hours producing watercolour paintings from my old sketch books from family holidays many years ago and from a few photos.

“To date, I have achieved 30 paintings of which I enclose photos of some of these for inclusion in your time capsule to let folk in the future know how we coped through this terrible time.”

Leslie, whose wife, Peggy, passed away six months after the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, has two daughters and two grandchildren.

Daughter Jackie told the Melton Times: “During lockdown he has been keeping busy painting watercolours which I feel is quite an achievement at the age of 100.

“Having never been online, he has also learnt how to use an iPad to Skype following a tutorial through an open window and a custom-made user guide produced by his grandaughter, Eleanor.”

The ‘CV-19 IsolatedbutInspired’ campaign project, being run by the county council’s heritage and libraries participation team, is inviting people from across the county to share their photos and video clips, showing how they have lived through lockdown.

The shared contributions will then be brought together to create a film which will act as a time capsule, demonstrating how people adapted and evolved, both socially and creatively.

Other examples already submitted include clips of the #clapforcarers campaign and pictures of rainbows in windows.

Robin Jenkins, senior archivist at the county council, said: “Coronavirus is a significant global historical event and we are delighted to be supporting this project which is seeking out the positivity and real sense of community that has been undeniable in recent weeks.

“We see this film as an opportunity to share with future generations how we coped at a pivotal point in history - isolated socially, but united in spirit.”

Councillor Richard Blunt, cabinet member for heritage, leisure and arts, said: “This is a difficult and turbulent time for everyone and what we all knew as day-to-day life has drastically changed. This campaign gives new meaning to adapting for the better.

“We want to continue to show that we are all in this together.

“Sharing content to show how individuals use different coping mechanisms and technology to see them through will be a testament to our time in these difficult circumstances.

“They will also be preserved for generations to come.”

Videos submitted should be no longer than two minutes in length and should be phone quality.

All art forms - such as photos, artwork, video and writing - should be submitted with the relevant permissions.

Content submitted doesn’t need to include people themselves - it can show art, animals, landscapes, collections or other family and friends - as long as they have given permission.

Entries can be submitted online using the following channels: Facebook.com/CommunityCurators, on Twitter.com/ComCurators or emailed to [email protected] - follow the campaign using the hashtag #CV19IsolatedbutInspired on Facebook and Twitter.