Local history

Since 2008 visitors to Eastwood's Durban House Heritage Centre have been greeted by an impressive painting, full of symbolism, depicting DH Lawrence and his most famous novel, Lady Chatterley's Lover.

From Eastwood to the World shows a raven, seemingly pecking at ropes that have been holding the book closed.

What's it all about?

Ron Morris is a member of the DH Lawrence Society and played a central role in the commissioning of the painting for the author's home town of Eastwood.

"(The book) is open and pages are rising into the sky. (It represents) Lawrence's words and sense of freedom for all.

"It's to do with people having a more loving relationship with themselves, with people around them and the environment and the world in general."

Ron Morris in front of Dr Bashir's painting

The origins

The seeds of From Eastwood to the World were sown when Dr Ala Bashir, an artist and Lawrence lover, was given a tour of DH country by Ron. It ended up at Durban House. Dr Bashir suggested a painting and the offer was gratefully accepted.

But Dr Bashir has an interesting past. For 20 years, from 1983, he was Saddam Hussein's personal physician.

Speaking in 2005 he said it was a role he didn't want but couldn't refuse.

"I was asked to be in his team. It was the saddest day in my life but nobody can refuse. (I would have been) put in prison or maybe killed because if you refuse they presume you are against the regime. It was a nightmare."

Freedom for all

With Saddam's toppling in Iraq, Dr Bashir moved to Nottinghamshire and was able to pursue more easily his passion for painting.

He wanted to pay tribute to DH Lawrence because the author's ideas of freedom were close to his heart.

Ron Morris believes the painting captures those beliefs.

"It's a beautiful artifact in its own right. (It shows) Lawrence's image of people being free to think their own thoughts, to live their own lives.

"(Visitors) would be reminded that in Eastwood was born one of the greatest writers in the English language of the last century, some people say of all time."

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