Celebrity Gallery

Stephen Wards sketches of celebrities, 1960

Through a doctor's eyes: a page of celebrities drawn by osteopath and gifted amateur artist Doctor Stephen Ward(1912-1963), as featured in The Illustrated London News in 1960. The sketches pictured here were displayed at the Legatt Brothers gallery in July 1960, comprising of sketches done by Ward, often for free, for his celebrity patients. Sketched here from life are the Right Honorable Hugh Gaitskell, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, M.P Duncan Sandys, Lord Boothby, Sophia Loren, Douglas Fairbanks, Sir Stanley Spencer, Sir Alan Herbert and Derick Heathcoat Armory. Ward went on to produce a series of specially commissioned sketches for the Illustrated London News. Following his involvement in the Profumo affair coming to public prominence, Ward committed suicide in 1963. Date: 1960

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Elizabeth Ponsonby with cocktail shaker and glasses

Miss Elizabeth Ponsonby (later the Hon. Mrs Dennis Pelly), one of the Bright Young Things of the 1920s, and daughter of Arthur Ponsonby a senior minister in the Labour government. A renowned party girl, Elizabeth chose to be pictured with a cocktail shaker and glasses in her portrait by Peter North which posed famous figures with objects that reflected their personality. Date: 1930

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Illustrated London News spread - Yuri Gagarin visit to UK

Double page spread from the Illustrated London News reporting on the visit of Russian cosmonaut, Major Yuri Gagarin to London in July 1961. Photographs show him meeting the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan as well as leader of the opposition, Hugh Gaitskill, being received by the Lord Mayor, visiting Buckingham Palace for a meeting with the Queen and the grave of Karl Marx in Highgate Cemetery. Date: 1961

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans