18 — Wednesday, September 3, 1997 — North Shore News
dining arts business

NORTH SHORE | IFE
- War museum gets pe trait

“By Layne Christensen

News Reporter

layne@nsnews.com

~ FLIPPING through a portfo-
lio of old works with her
young artist-friend Christian
“Corbet one day, Elizabeth

" Smiily came across a portrait
she had sketched in 1946.

“Who's that?” asked Corbet, 31.
“Why that’s Odette Churchill,”
_ replied the elder artist.

Corbet. had heard stories of the
~ Second World War heroine from his

“3. relatives in Great Britain and thought

athe artwork should have a pro
* home. He contacted the Imperial at
., Museum in London and a full year
later had word back that, yes indeed,
they would like to acquire the portrait

for their collection.
Smily “completed . the portrait in
pastel on paper, measuring 12”x14”,
. a student at. the. Royal
Aeadesn Schools in London. She says
he’s ei to be shipping the por-
it to the war museum.

*m thrilled to bits,” said Smily,
‘a past “president: of the

The well-known British actress had
played Odette in a film based on the
heroine’s life.

During Churchill’s portrait sitting,
Smily had a chance to chat with her
subject.

“I asked her ‘How were you able
to be so brave?’ and she said ‘Well, I
had to live with myself for the rest ‘of
my life,’ ” recalls the artist.

Churchill was born Odette Marie

Sanson in France in 1912. She joined
the French Resistance during the ~§

Second World War and reported to
Capt. Peter Churchill of the British
Army.

Captured by the Gestapo and
imprisoned in Fraine, France, she was
held in a cramped cell. Her captives
tortured her for information on her

-captain’s whereabouts but she refused

to
“They burned her back with hot
irons and they pulled her toenails
out,” said Smily.
~ When she was released she moved
to Britain and married Churchill.
King George awarded her the
George Cross for Bravery and the

MBE, Member of the British Empire. _

There was a biography and.a movie
on her life. Then she dropped out of

sdera noF Canadian Artists and a _— sight.
“In England it’s a very important
icty. story,” said Corbet. “She received all -
oo Canadian’ war atk) Sam Black has _ these t Orders back in "46 then
’ stuff in there and he always asks me to she pulled herself away from all of it.”
and sce it whet T'go to London.” . +: Incredibly, ” while > researching
is a in  Churchill’s past, Corbet discovered
~ that the war heroine was still alive. |
‘Now 84 and three times a widow,” |
she’s living as. Odette Hallowes in’
‘~ Walton-on-Thames. ©. in Surrey, 2
~ England, said Corbet.” :

ae ‘Opening Reception _ T-Shirt Sales .
Wednesday ‘September 3 7pm-9pm Featuring a new Native Art design each year, -

available at the Gpening Reception,
at Ambleside Pzrk on Sunday.,

Coho Walk - Sunday Sept 7 ce a me and Rol

; . 1Gaz-2pm . Ambleside Park on Sunday UL:
~ Ticket $15.00 at the door of the Squamish Nation 8 km Walk is from Cie farid Dam to Ambleside
* Rec Center, 100 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver Pao x, featring hve isang Seo ee ecatalle 45
a .
_ Salmon Art Display - Sept. 3-7 km Walk is from Capilano Suspension Bridge to Coho Festival Society of the North Sho
North Shore Elementary School students display Ambleside Park, joining the other walk after ___ cf West Vancouver Chamber of evita
‘their salmon art work in Park Royal Shopping crossing the suspension bridge. Shuttle buses 775 15th Street, West Vancouver, B, CLNTE 289
Centre during the festival. depart from Park Royal South Parking Lot.
Co-sponsored by the GVRD and the Capilano
College Outdoor Recreation Department.

Tag Day
North Shore School students man Coho Festival
booths at various North Shore shopping malls on te; Registration
Saturday 10 am to 4pm. ayy eeTeens:S. ww 00 ms
Each student wears Coho Festival “bib” for Vane Rae cA
rears Coho Festiv z sD ee Fea

identification.

Official kick of to the Coho Festival, featuring
entertainment, Salmon and Wine Tasting,
dignitaries and presentation of the award for the
winning artwork to be used on the Salt Water
~ Fishing Licenses. °

For more information contact:

All donations to the
Salmon Enhancement Program