As we look forward to a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, I would like you to search your memory for information about Diana Pullinger (Cavill).

Franki Carrera-Justiz and other visitors to the museum have admired the two sets of screens portraying the History of the Bahamas.

The screens pictured below were painted by Diana Pullinger for the Nassau Shop, who later donated them to the Bahamas Historical Society.

So far we have the following information:

She was married to Clifford Cavill, Director of Works in Nassau, Bahamas.

She received three medals from the Royal Society of Art (Great Britain?)

Several of her paintings were auctioned by Lunds and their spokesman Arthur Underhill says:

“I do remember this consignment. It came from a group of cabins at Saltair which is on the water between Chemainus and Ladysmith on Vancouver Island north of Victoria The cabins were being taken down for condominiums. The pictures themselves had been left behind when the occupants moved. Apparently the artist had lived there for a time.

Diana Pullinger Cavill is known as an illustrator in this area. Her artwork does not come on the market very often. Some of the pictures we sold at this time were quite good.

I believe she was related to members of the Pullinger family, some of whom used to live in the area. I tried contacting a Jan Pullinger, who may have been a daughter or niece when we auctioned the paintings with no response. Jan Pullinger served a term as a Member of Parliament a number of years ago.”

Our next talks are:

Thursday 28^th January 2010 at 6pm Talk Sir Randol Fawkes by Rosalie Fawkes

Thursday 25^th February 2010 at 6pm Talk ‘Over-the-Hill’ Grants Town by Sir Orville Turnquest.

Prince George, Duke of Kent

INQUIRY to BHS regarding Audrey Haldeman

Dear BHS,

I am a British writer and biographer, currently at work on the life of Prince George, Duke of Kent (1902-42), younger brother of the Duke of Windsor. I would be most grateful for your expert guidance.

One close friend of Prince George was Audrey Haldeman, (b. 1895 Audrey Gretchen Wilmot, m.(i) Jack Coats, (ii) Captain Donald Carmichael Haldeman).  

Mrs Haldeman took up residence in the Bahamas upon the outbreak of the Second World War, but died in November 1941 in what has been described to me by a member of her family as 'unusual circumstances'.  Because of her closeness to Prince George prior to his marriage, I am naturally keen to learn more about Mrs Haldeman's days in the Bahamas.   I know little more of this short period of her life, only that when her husband Capt Haldeman died in 1952, he was buried next to her.

I wonder if you know of some expert on this period of Bahamian history

who might be able to flesh out this very rudimentary information?   I would be very much obliged for any advice or information you may be able to offer.

With best wishes and thanks,

Christopher Wilson

Ordinance House
West Dean
Salisbury SP5 1JE
United Kingdom

www.christopherwilson.info

The Bahamas Historical Society (BHS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to stimulating interest in Bahamian History and to the collection and preservation of material relating thereto. Its Headquarters, the former IODE Hall, was a gift from the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE). BHS is on Shirley Street and Elizabeth Avenue in Nassau. www.bahamashistoricalsociety. com