In Memoriam: Alfred Fairbank
Anna Hornby
The first meeting with Alfred that I remember was in 1952, when it had been suggested that I should be the Hon. Secretary for the proposed Society for Italic Handwriting. But I had met some of his works long before this, the splendid manuscripts of Horace (italic hand), and Virgil (Roman hand), which he had written out for my uncle, St. John Hornby. I remember seeing loose pages of the Virgil while they were being beautifully illuminated by Lalla Powell (Mrs Louise Powell), who was a near neighbour and friend of my family and then living at Tunley, Gloucestershire. Alfred and Lalla were a perfect working partnership as the results show, and they had a mutual regard for each other's work.
Almost everything I know about Italic, and calligraphy in general, I owe to Alfred. In 1952 I was a raw beginner both about Italic and as a Secretary. Throughout the following years, I was fortunate to have the benefit of his wisdom, knowledge, and above all his friendship. Ours also proved to be a good working partnership.
To me Alfred's outstanding quality was his absolute integrity ll1 every aspect of his life and work. Nothing second-rate, or not 100 % true, would ever do, even had it been to his own advantage. There were so many other qualities I came to know and appreciate. His excellent brain and constantly inquiring mind, his scholarship (and this emanating not from a high-powered education but from his own inherent capacities, interests, and application). His imaginativeness, his seeking answers to problems (the S.I.H. had many!), his perception and love of beauty, his generosity and his delightful sense of humour. . . the whole is always far greater than the sum of the parts! Others will have written of his scholarship, research and contribution to teaching. Where I had a close association with him was in his teaching at S.I.H. courses. These were mainly geared to the beginner and were a straightforward, beautifully demonstrated explanation 'of the use of an edged pen, the letter-forms from a to z, taught in related movement-groups, followed by reasoned joins, and finally capitals plain and swash. His demonstrations were certainly 'a dance of the pen' (though on these occasions mostly a dance of chalk on blackboard). He was unsparing of himself, and stayed far beyond the scheduled teaching time: discussions continued for hours. The courses were always a hive of industry, very happy occasions, and often the beginning of lasting friendships.
Immortality is an unknown quantity. Alfred will have a 'worldly immortality' . . .isn't there a saying 'By their fruits ye shall know them'? He follows in the wake of his beloved Arrighi, Tagliente, Lucas, and Edward Johnston, Mrs Bridges. . . and so on. Like so many of us; when his appointed time came, I mourned the loss of a dear friend and Mentor, and rejoice in the value of his life. May the fruits of work continue into the future, and especially in relation to the young and the teaching of handwriting.