We were extremely saddened to learn that one of our earliest pupils, Lawrence Hutchings (65B) died at his home in Botswana on 6 April 2023.
With thanks to Lawrence's brother Robert, for providing us with the following tribute:
LAWRENCE JAMES HUTCHINGS. Christened with his mother’s maiden name as his first Christian name. Given his father’s second Christian name as his second name.
Born in Yeovil Somerset.
As an independent child he took the bus on his own to Kindergarten at Park School Yeovil.
Following A Levels, he sought to work on pursuing a career in the building industry, following an ancestral thread. Lawrence chose to go to the College of Estate Management to qualify as a Quantity Surveyor at the College of Statement, the college was incorporated into the University of Reading where he completed his degree. Lawrence got a job with a local firm of Quantity Surveyors, Adams Ide and Price in Rickmansworth. Being ambitious he moved on to Reynolds and Young in London.
He was later transferred to the Ivory Coast for quantity surveying on a virgin sugar plantation and factory.
He moved to Botswana in 1978 where he opened his own practice, Reynolds and Young Botswana, there he undertook numerous projects such as: Orapa House, Poso House, the libraries in Tsabong and Ghanzi, Sekgoma Hospital, Scottish Livingstone Hospital, Princess Marina Hospital, a total of 11 post offices around Botswana, the high court of Lobatse, the stadium in Lobatse, Otse Police College and Boipuso Hall just to name a few.
Lawrence Hutchings was well known for his admirable finger-painting technique under the alias "Lorenzo Tabret". He first painted with a brush, then in 1965, changed to using a pallet knife and finally evolved to using his fingers in 1977, as a more expedient way for what was known at the time as the transformation magic of the great dauber. He has received international acknowledgement, by his inclusion in The International Who’s Who of professionals, as an honoured member for the year 1999, for his contribution of 35 years of teaching Art. He was also fond of mentoring upcoming artists, such as the renowned Wilson Ngoni.
“Lorenzo” has donated paintings for presentation over the years to numerous celebrities all over the world, and to many charities. His donations have been received by Miss Universe 1999, Mpule Kwelagobe, Botswana Red Cross society and Rotary International, The Street Children Appeal Fund, The Holy Cross Hospice, The Kalahari Conservation Society, Nicky Oppenheimer (when he officiated the Gaborone Rotary Club Aids benefit gala dinner and the Aids Benefit function organised by Mpule Kwelagobe in 2000) amongst others.He has paintings hanging in different countries all over the seven continents. Lorenzo was well- known for his painting “The Kalahari Crucifixion, which was presented in 1988 to his holiness Pope John Paul II, by the former President Sir Ketumile Masire, on the behalf of the people of Botswana.
In 1969 he met a Dutch Nurse; they got married in 1971 and had three children, they then separated. He later met and married Florence Alidi Hutchings in 1991, whom he lost in 2015. May her soul rest in peace. He is survived by two siblings, a brother and sister, six children (three girls, three boys) and ten grandchildren. Lawrence loved people, he was patient, generous and always had a story to share. Many have a learnt a great deal from him, for he was always willing to impart his knowledge.
Lawrence was cremated on 12 April 2023, on behalf of the whole Shiplake community, our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.
