Mrs / DAWN DEANE (FRIEND)
I lived at Brunswick Place, and was happy to be a neighbour to John, I found him exciting. he always listened to me, understood me. I know he was a good friend, he always will be.

Dawn Close

Cubes In The Round - A Letter Collection - Volume 2  / Michael Gnadig
When reviewing John Lillyman's "Cubes In The Round - A Letter Collection - Volume 2", I wrote:-

"John Lillyman's honest, active political side presents a fascinating microcosm of the age in which we live. He has stated that 'I am no great stylist of the English language, these letters were born out of frustration, anger and helpnessness of us all not being heard'. Although his period of activity via the written word is less than thirty years, the work reflects both spirit of the age and Lillyman's abiding values". Close

Cubes In The Round - A Letter Collection  / Michael Gnadig
When reviewing John Lillmans's book - Cubes In The Round - A Letter Collection Volume 1, I wrote:-

"The poems and prose in John Lillyman's 'Cubes In The Round' contain the themes of moral, spiritual and political rebellion and sometimes blasphemous subject matter. With his imaginative experiments in both the Classical and Romantic traditions, his luxurious imagery and joy of words has found new admirers. In an age in which his outrageous virtuosity, as demonstrated in this selection of his verse, speaks to those sickened by the conventions of the twenty first century".  Close

John's "Manchester Years"  / Peter Bowcock (Friend)
I was introduced to John at a party in Manchester by a friend of a friend in the early 1990's.

I was impressed by his confidence and his bearing and was actually quite fascinated by his presence, he certainly was not afraid to express his views however controversial.

We became very good friends and I was a frequent visitor to his flat in Didsbury which doubled as a studio. He was always entertaining friends and / or working on a new piece of sculpture or mask. Once I arrived to see "The Statue of Liberty" emerging form his fireplace made of nothing but cane and all held together with fine leather straps!

I remember a show he held at a local gallery. He worked tirelessly for months preparing and getting all the exhibits ready in time. The night of the show was thrilling. I had never been to anything similar and was delighted to see so many people there. John was in his element welcoming people and showing them around. There was wine and food and a harpist and candles and music - a wonderful atmosphere created by a wonderful and sadly missed person.

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