Percy Monkman
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Percy Monkman (1892-1986) was born in Bradford and lived in Baildon in West Yorkshire. He studied at the Bradford School of Art and painted predominantly town and country scenes around West Yorkshire using oils, watercolour and gouache. He served in World War One after which he returned to a career in banking, but continued to paint, and also act at the Bradford Civic Theatre.
He was the chief cashier with the Westminster Bank in Bradford, whereupon retiring he began to paint professionally. He was a past president of the Bradford Art Club and a life member of the Yorkshire Watercolour Society and Farsley Arts Club, and was one of the first artists to regularly contribute work for the Dalesman magazine.
While serving as a soldier in World War One, Percy found a talent for entertaining other soldiers as a pierrot with the 13th Corps Concert Party. He enjoyed many friendships in Yorkshire society; his oldest friend was JB Priestley, famous writer and the most celebrated Bradfordian of their generation.
JB Priestley and Percy Monkman both grew up in the Toller Lane area and regularly played football together (Toller Lane Tykes and Saltburn United). He was a lifelong supporter of Bradford City AFC, having been born within a mile of Valley Parade and even trialled for the club as a teenager. A photograph of Percy was published in the Sunday Times on the 19 May 1985 showing him pay his final visit to Valley Parade the day after the tragedy of the Bradford City Fire on 11 May 1985 when 56 people lost their lives and 250 suffered injuries.