Exercise book, 'My Holidays in August 1947 and August 1948', handwritten by Jean Elisabeth Brill, 1947-1948

Excercise book with a cover of red embossed card, containing a handwritten daily journal recounting the events of two holidays in successive years (August 1947 and August 1948). The title of the journal is written on the cover in coloured pencil. Accompanying some of the text inside are illustrations executed in ink and graphite.

Given by Anne Phillips

Written and illustrated by Jean Elisabeth Brill (1937-2015) whilst on holiday in south east England in August 1947 and August 1948. Given to the V&A in 2016 by her school friend, Anne Phillips [2016/946].

Jean Elisabeth Brill was born on 24th June 1937, in Leeds, Yorkshire. Her parents were Percy Francis Edward ‘Phil’ Brill (1896-1967), a civil servant, and Winifred Mary Brill née Hewlitt (1900-1969). As a child, Jean enjoyed reading, writing and swimming. Influenced by contemporary film and literature, she produced several manuscript stories with illustrations. She also wrote journals, producing an autobiographical work and a day-by-day account of her holidays in consecutive years. Jean attended a private school in Headingley, Leeds (which she called “Miss Davies’s School in her work) and then grammar school at Lawnswood High School. Jean did not marry, she spent her career working as a primary school teacher. Jean Brill died in June 2015.

Jean Brill was born in Leeds in 1937 to middle-class parents, this is her handwritten account of two summer holidays to the south east of England. In the journal she describes holiday activities such as walking in the woods and swimming, and daytrips to the countryside, to London to attend the 1948 Summer Olympics and to seaside resorts, like Hastings and Bognor Regis. Parts of it are illustrated with ink and pencil drawings.

B.26-2016