Works by late-comer to art get their first airing in decades

Much of the work will be getting its first public airing for decades.

A painter for around 50 years, Jordan’s work is impressive in its range.

“We’ve uncovered a real treasure trove”, says Exhibitions Coordinator Mark Milnes.

“There is so much work at the family home of such consistently high quality, and it really deserves to be seen by a wider audience.”

William (Bill) Jordan was born in Sheffield in 1922.

After service in the RAF he began his career as a teacher in 1946.

A keen amateur sportsman, he did not take up painting until the age of 33 when his rugby playing days ended.

He lived and worked in Hertfordshire for a time, returning to Cleckheaton in 1966 where he lived with his wife Joyce for most of the remainder of his life.

He died in April 2011 at the age of 88.

His interest in art was first sparked in 1954 when visiting lecturer Lawrence Alloway spoke at his school.

The selling exhibition opens on Saturday and will show a cross-section of the work produced by Jordan throughout almost 50 years of painting.