Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell
Gertrude was an extraordinary woman, born in 1868 on 14 July and dying 2 days before her 58th birthday on 12 July 1926 in mysterious circumstances (though the official verdict was suicide). She achieved so much in her life, not least to help map out the boundaries of modern day Iraq. she acted as King maker by supporting Faisal for the throne and worked alongside T E Lawrence in obtaining Arab rule for the Arabs in the face of some opposition. Gertrude was multifaceted and talented, a brilliant writer, gifted linguist and archaeologist. Adventuress, traveller and spy, mountaineer and gardener, she took the middle east by storm and on her death, a state funeral in her beloved Baghdad and King George V saying the nation shall mourn her passing.
I have done extensive research about her life, and set up an exhibition which was opened in the house of commons by the Speaker, who at that time was Betty Boothroyd. Following that time I was in contact with Graham Best who worked at Teesside University. The Exhibition travelled the length and breadth of the UK, and then abroad where I was fortunate enough to travel with it in connection with my work as Regional Director at the British Council. the first showing abroad was in Egypt, a fitting tribute to Gertrude Bell who attended the Cairo Conference in 1921, and the iconic photographs shows her seated on a camel between Winston Churchhill and T E Lawrence.
I took early retirement and lost touch with Graham, but then one day I received a note from John Eager who has set up the Ledbury Portal. John and I know each other from the days I was a Governor at the School attended by his Children. John forwarded to me an e-mail from Graham and we since then we have been enthusiastically promoting Gertrude Bell. The poetry which Gertrude Bell had so skillfully translated from the Persian Poet, Hafez, is still seen as the best translation and used by scholars. "Songs of Dead Laughter is the book of Bell's Poems selected by Graham Best. Jan Long and Graham have arranged the launch of this book by Stoneman Press to be held on 17 July in the Redbarns hotel in Redcar, where Gertrude Bell lived as a child. A further book is being co-written and is the illustrated life of Gertrude Bell which will feature previously unseen photographs and other personalia of her intensely personal life. The materials have been given by Gertrude Bell's family into the safekeeping of Jan Long and Graham Best for inclusion in their forthcoming book.
Click HERE to view or comment on our new Guestbook
Gertrude was an extraordinary woman, born in 1868 on 14 July and dying 2 days before her 58th birthday on 12 July 1926 in mysterious circumstances (though the official verdict was suicide). She achieved so much in her life, not least to help map out the boundaries of modern day Iraq. she acted as King maker by supporting Faisal for the throne and worked alongside T E Lawrence in obtaining Arab rule for the Arabs in the face of some opposition. Gertrude was multifaceted and talented, a brilliant writer, gifted linguist and archaeologist. Adventuress, traveller and spy, mountaineer and gardener, she took the middle east by storm and on her death, a state funeral in her beloved Baghdad and King George V saying the nation shall mourn her passing.
I have done extensive research about her life, and set up an exhibition which was opened in the house of commons by the Speaker, who at that time was Betty Boothroyd. Following that time I was in contact with Graham Best who worked at Teesside University. The Exhibition travelled the length and breadth of the UK, and then abroad where I was fortunate enough to travel with it in connection with my work as Regional Director at the British Council. the first showing abroad was in Egypt, a fitting tribute to Gertrude Bell who attended the Cairo Conference in 1921, and the iconic photographs shows her seated on a camel between Winston Churchhill and T E Lawrence.
I took early retirement and lost touch with Graham, but then one day I received a note from John Eager who has set up the Ledbury Portal. John and I know each other from the days I was a Governor at the School attended by his Children. John forwarded to me an e-mail from Graham and we since then we have been enthusiastically promoting Gertrude Bell. The poetry which Gertrude Bell had so skillfully translated from the Persian Poet, Hafez, is still seen as the best translation and used by scholars. "Songs of Dead Laughter is the book of Bell's Poems selected by Graham Best. Jan Long and Graham have arranged the launch of this book by Stoneman Press to be held on 17 July in the Redbarns hotel in Redcar, where Gertrude Bell lived as a child. A further book is being co-written and is the illustrated life of Gertrude Bell which will feature previously unseen photographs and other personalia of her intensely personal life. The materials have been given by Gertrude Bell's family into the safekeeping of Jan Long and Graham Best for inclusion in their forthcoming book.
Click HERE to view or comment on our new Guestbook