“Walmer Beach”, 2003
"Stanley Goodchild was born in Walmer in 1920. He trained at Dover and Folkestone Art Schools as a Graphic Designer. This was interrupted by the Second World War in 1939 when he joined the Royal Navy at the age of 19. He served in HMS Sussex and HMS Arethusa in the Mediterranean and on the Russian Convoys. He was mentioned in dispatches.
Returning to Deal at the end of the War, Stanley completed his training at Canterbury College of Art and then took up a post as a Graphic Designer in Maidstone. In 1950 he was called up for the Korean War. On his return to Kent he began to record, through his watercolour painting, the history of Deal and Walmer beach, local Lifeboat rescues and many other maritime subjects including wartime naval vessels. He also cycled around the countryside working from local churches and landscapes, often using sketchbook material to develop into watercolours. In 1995 he received an important commission to produce a series of drawings of traditional boats on Deal beach for the periodical “Bygone Kent”.
Stanley exhibited in London and Deal where his paintings were very well received."
Carol Goodchild. October 2023.
Returning to Deal at the end of the War, Stanley completed his training at Canterbury College of Art and then took up a post as a Graphic Designer in Maidstone. In 1950 he was called up for the Korean War. On his return to Kent he began to record, through his watercolour painting, the history of Deal and Walmer beach, local Lifeboat rescues and many other maritime subjects including wartime naval vessels. He also cycled around the countryside working from local churches and landscapes, often using sketchbook material to develop into watercolours. In 1995 he received an important commission to produce a series of drawings of traditional boats on Deal beach for the periodical “Bygone Kent”.
Stanley exhibited in London and Deal where his paintings were very well received."
Carol Goodchild. October 2023.