Uncle Tom's Funeral Procession
signed 'HELEN BRADLEY' and with fly insignia (lower right); further signed, inscribed and dated '"Theyre off" called John Sam'els wife Florrie, who was/standing on a chair peeping through the Blind, but Martha/Higgingbottom who was also peeping was away counting/the neighbours who were following the Hearse. "We cant/feed all that lot" said aunt Mary, who was away/stealing the ham. Mother wasnt thinking about the food/but great uncle Toms sideboard. "I wonder who he's left it/too" she said, but aunt Annie (who was only an aunt by/marriage) said, "Jane, youve enough furniture, I could do/ with that sideboard". Just then Sarah's voice came from/upstairs, "Everybody's making for the front gardens and/I can hear a bull bellowing", So mother, aunt Mary,/and aunt Frances rushed upstairs to see what was happening/sure enough, Joe Wroe the Butcher was so busy watching/great uncle Toms funeral that he forgot to fasten his bulls in,/so out they came and away they ran. Two were soon caught but/one ran down into Lees, and the thought of it deterred several people/ who were coming to the house for the funeral tea which made it/easier for mother and the aunts. Alas we didnt get the sideboard/and the year was 1909./Helen Layfield Bradley 1973.' (on a label attached to backboard)
oil on canvas laid on board
60.3 x 151.5 cm. (23 3/4 x 59 5/8 in.)