Potter and artist has died aged 84 (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Potter and artist has died aged 84

6:42am Wednesday 17th March 2010

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A craftsman has died just weeks after an exhibition was staged to showcase his skills.

Harry Johnston was a self-employed potter and also an engraver and artist.

He died earlier this month at the age of 84 at Fairfield Hospital in Bury after a period of ill health.

Mr Johnston, who lived at Delph House Farm in Birtle, is survived by his wife, Valerie, and son, Mark.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he came to the UK following the death of his father and attended Heap Bridge and Regent Street schools in Heywood.

After leaving school at 14, he studied art at Bury Art School.

Towards the end of World War Two, he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Northern Ireland and Germany. While in Germany, he studied art under well-known war artist, Wilhelm Wessel.

Once back in the UK, he got a job in the design department of paper bag manufacturers, Bibby and Baron, based in Dumers Lane, Bury.

But he left a short time later to fulfil his ambition of becoming an artist. He opened Birtle Pottery in 1950 at the site of a former church off Elbut Lane.

Mr Johnston’s workshop produced ceramics, one-off statues, vases, cups and other goods. Another of his passions was engraving and prints of local scenes and landscapes would be produced on etched slate. Mr Johnston was also respected for his woodcuts.

He was also involved in religious art and his paintings and portraits were equally as popular. Mr Johnston created large murals for Birtle Parish Church.

Despite deteriorating health, Mr Johnston and his wife attended a Birtle Trust exhibition staged in his honour at Jericho Methodist Church on February 13.

Mrs Johnston said: “The exhibition was amazing and it was wonderful to see the work he’d done over so many years. It was a great success and attracted more than 200 people.”

* A funeral service will take place at 10.15am on Friday at Jericho Methodist Church at Elbut Lane-Rochdale Road, Bury, followed by committal at Rochdale Crematorium.

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