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Dr
G A Johnston (1869-1949)
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| Dr George Ainslie Johnston MD, JP was a very important person in Kurt Schwitters' final years in Ambleside. He was far more than just KS' local doctor and was a good friend of both KS and Wantee. | |
| " I look
forward to receiving the postcards of dear Dr Johnston. The
friendship between these two fine characters was beautiful to see, and I
shall always feel privileged to have played a small part, in helping a
truly good man, in his last sad, but lovely years."
Edith Thomas - Wantee 1987 |
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Printed Plaque in Armitt Library: "Dr. G. A. Johnston (1869-1949) who practised in Ambleside for more than 50 years. He was a founder of the Ambleside Old Folks' 'Do', to whom this portrait by Kurt Schwitters was originally given" Dr Johnston was one of the original members of the Armitt Library at its inception in 1912. He had earlier joined the Ambleside Ruskin Library, founded in 1882, (Member No 5 in 1894) and was one of the 25 ARL readers whose membership was transferred to the Armitt Library when that new foundation embodied the old ARL in 1912. Some time after his death the portrait was given to the AOF, but they had no permanent premises and, because he had been instrumental in its founding, they wished the picture to remain in Ambleside where he had served so long. With his long association with the Armitt, both as a member and benefactor, it was decided to give the portrait to the Armitt in 1952. E.J. 2nd October 1979 |
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| The study of Dr Johnston is one of the best known
of Kurt Schwitters’ Ambleside works. KS had a long history of illness and,
after breaking his leg in a fall, the Doctor would play Chess with him
for an hour or so each day to give Wantee (Edith Thomas) a chance to get
some fresh air. In a letter to a friend KS wrote: “I don’t know whether to let him win - then he has a friendly expression, but people will think I’m a bad chess player - or shall I win, then his expression will be unfriendly and people will think I’m a bad painter…” |
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My last Will + Testament Dated this 15th July 1947 signed as witness as a dying
Dr Johnston was the scribe for Kurt Schwitters' Last Will and Testament, this copy was presented to the Armitt collection by Edith Thomas. |
The will was contested by Ernst Schwitters as all the KS works in England were left to Edith Thomas. In England, a will needed two signatures to be legal; this will was only signed by Dr Johnston. However, although proceedings to make Schwitters a British Citizen were underway, he died still a German citizen and only one signature was needed in Germany for a will to be legal. |
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Dr Johnston was certainly a character, as can be seen in the copy (in the Armitt collection) of the action against him by Ambleside Urban District Council in 1925 (it went all the way to the High Court) - "They" erected a gas lamp on Dr Johnston's "property", so he removed it! An injunction was granted, preventing him from removing or interfering with the public gas lamp. Damages were not considered as they were a mere £1. |
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[ Alien at Ambleside ] [ Dr G A Johnston ] [ Merz Lives On ] [ Kurt Schwitters at the Armitt ] [ KS - An Appreciation by Russell Mills ] [ Newspaper Collages ] [ Wood on Wood ]