'TO THE KING'

A coloured engraving of this picture was given by Frank to the next youngest brother Frederick de la Hyde after he returned from his trip to Australia circa 1908. It is held by Phyllis Clements, Frederick's daughter, who at approximately 90 old is the oldest living niece of Frank.

Phyllis's daughter Rhonda Porada sent me a photo of the print.The man with the hat at the top right of the picture looks like Frederick to me, but I may be mistaken.

Recently (1st. Nov. 2002) a correspondent, Geoffrey Kitchen wrote:

"For more years than I care to remember, a print by Frank Hyde has hung in the premises of the accountancy firm in Keighley, Yorkshire where I, until retiring 10 years ago, was a partner.

When I joined the firm, whilst awaiting call-up, in July 1945 this print hung in the office of the then senior partner, Michael Cryer who had been with the firm since 1900 or earlier. There is no record as to when it was first acquired but probably during the first half of the last century.

As the years passed by this print came into my office and was much admired by myself and other people. Many years ago, my secretary asked if she could have it to hang on the wall of her newly formed office. Permission was given and to this day, although she left some time ago, it is still in the same office.

Only this week I was in that office and commented on the print to the present new occupant of that particular room. It then occurred to me that if I went to the Internet I could probably obtain information about Frank Hyde. On Wednesday I used the search engine "Google" and to my delight and surprise Frank Hyde was on the first line of the search.

To my even greater delight I found the picture which I hoped to find, entitled "The Piker" with the comment that you did not know the correct title. This is identical to one mentioned above and is entitled "To the King" which would appear very appropriate being the Royalists attempting to persuade the Oliver Cromwell supporter to drink a toast to the King."

Geoffrey sent me another photo of the print from which the above image is made.

On the border of the picture at the bottom on the right-hand-side in small letters is "Printed and Published by Thos Forman & Son, Nottingham" and on the left "From the original painting by Frank Hyde - copyright".

The company named was originally established in 1848.