Illustrated Shakespeare textbook finds its way back to Bathurst's Graham Lupp

The textbook has 11 detailed illustrations of scenes from the play, drawn in pencil and ink, and partially coloured with watercolours.

The illustrated copy of Macbeth had been in the possession of fellow classmate Rob Learmonth. Rob Learmonth’s father, Ron "Leary" Learmonth, was an English teacher, sportsmaster and sports coach at Bathurst High from 1943-64.

In 1980, the Learmonth Park sporting fields in Kelso were named after Ron Learmonth to honour his contribution to the Bathurst community, particularly in sport. This included founding and captaining the Bathurst High School cricket team that competed in A grade, being a founding member of the Bathurst Rugby League Club, and president of both the Bathurst Rugby League, and the Bathurst Rugby League Club.

"After dad passed away suddenly from a heart attack in 1969, we found Graham’s illustrated textbook among dad's books," Rob Learmonth said. "When we left Bathurst I decided to keep it because of its unique nature, and because the clever illustrations had been done by my classmate."

Mr Lupp said he had no idea how the book came to be with Ron Learmonth.

"When I went to return the book, my English teacher Laurie Ingersole gave me his clean copy of Macbeth to hand in to the book pool," he said. "I understood that Laurie was going to keep the copy I had illustrated.”

Rob Learmonth was in Bathurst late last month for the Challenge Bathurst motor racing event at Mount Panorama. He sometimes races his own vehicle, but was at the Mount in the capacity of race marshal.

The two former classmates had not crossed paths since leaving school.

Mr Learmonth, who lives near Murwillumbah, worked around NSW, mainly as a teacher, but also as an education officer for the ABC and SBS, and as a water resources officer in northern NSW.

Mr Lupp has been a full-time resident of Bathurst, except for periods studying architecture in Sydney in the late 60s, and fine art in London in the early 70s. He has been a professional artist since 1984.

Two local retired teachers, Graeme Hanger and John Payne, were instrumental in the reunion of the former classmates, and the subsequent return of the illustrated textbook.

"I was interested to find out about the man after whom Learmonth Park was named, so I contacted John Payne, who is very knowledgeable about the history of Bathurst High School,” Mr Hanger said. “John worked there as a young teacher in the early 60s, and subsequently as deputy principal from 1998-2002. He actually knew Ron Learmonth.

"John put me in contact with Ron Learmonth’s two children – his daughter Margaret, the widow of Bathurst Teachers’ College principal Lionel Allen, and his son Rob. John and I subsequently met up with Rob in early October when Rob was passing through town, and learnt from him about his possession of the book that Graham had illustrated. When Rob found out that Graham Lupp was still in town, he immediately said he would like to return the book. The rest is history."

Mr Lupp said that in retrospect he believed the illustrations were an outlet for the frustration he felt for not being able to study art at school.

"In those days boys were channelled into woodwork and technical drawing," he said. "I actually did very well in the latter, and the influence of tech drawing can be seen in the lettering on the cartoons, along with the fact that I was being influenced by the cartoons in MAD magazine comics.

"And I am overcome with appreciation of Rob Learmonth’s generosity."