Lancelot Speed
He attended Rugby School and
then gained entry to Clare College, Cambridge to study Anatomy. His
life changed after a few months when he suffered a broken leg the
required convalescence. On his return he changed to study
Archaeology and Greek Art. After gaining his degree he then attended
Slade School of Art to build on his interest in fine art and hone
his own artistic skills.
In 1883 he met and married
Florence Lowe.
Within a few years Lawrence
was contributing illustrations to many books and the major
illustrated newspapers of the day.
He also became a favoured
designer for many poets and authors of the fantasy based books
popular at the time and he was often associated with drawings of
fairies and gods like the Chariot of Freya although he continued
with more mainstream illustrations as well.
In the late 1890’s Lancelot
and Florence moved to Rose Cottage, High Street, Burnham on Crouch
where they entered into the life of the town.
In February 1900 they treated
the residents to Princess Rosebud , a four act fairy play which they
wrote and played to a packed Public Hall.
In March 1900 for Burnham
Carnival, Lawrence designed a Carnival float which featured a
decorated car with Florence dress as Britannia riding on the top.
These social occasions involving the community were to be a feature
of his stay in Burnham.
Lancelot developed a large
studio attached to his house where he was able to draw his
illustrations for magazines like Punch and the Windsor as well as
many well known books. Sadly a fire in 1923 well after he moved
totally destroyed his studio.
Lancelot quickly began to use
some of the people that he met in the Dengie Hundred as designs to
include in his drawings. One particular story “Dick Spindler’s
Family Christmas” in the Windsor Magazine, featured many Burnham
residents in almost every illustration leading to much amusement
locally.
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In 1906 the Speeds moved to
Hertfordshire although Lancelot still continued to use some of the
features of the residents in his illustrations.
Florence died in 1931 and was followed a
few months later on 31 December 1931 by Lancelot.
