Mary K. Spiers, a nurse at the Middlesex Hospital. Drawing by William Russell Flint, 1938.

Mary Kathleen Spiers, subsequently Mary Kathleen Miller, nursed William Russell Flint at the Middlesex Hospital in London in 1938. During the Blitz she worked in the cancer ward of the Middlesex Hospital. She later worked for the Red Cross at the Aberfan disaster and in Cardiff, and was appointed M.B.E. (Information from Alasdair G. Miller)

The holographs are eleven letters from William Russell Flint to Mary Kathleen Spiers, dated between 1 January 1944 and 3 March 1967. Several of them mention Flint's drawings of Mary Kathleen Spiers and express his appreciation of her nursing of him at the Woolavington wing of the Middlesex Hospital

She crosses her arms and holds a syringe in her left hand

[1938]

1 drawing : pencil ; sight 23.8 x 8.3 cm
11 items : holographs ; mostly approximately 25.5 x 20.3 cm

Russell Flint Dedication of drawing in ink on sheet affixed to backing board: "To Mary with my affectionate good wishes and with most grateful recollections of her kindness and care of me in the Middlesex Hospital years ago. William Russell Flint, Christmas 1949". Further inscription written directly on backing board: "Mary Kathleen Spiers. W. Russell Flint. (drawn on very old fragile paper)"

William Russell Flint exhibition, Usher Gallery Lincoln, 1963, no. 144(1) "Mary Spiers I" or 144(2) "Mary Spiers II", both described as "My angelic nurse in the Middlesex Hospital", represented by screen prints from the book William Russell Flint, Drawings, London: Collins, 1950

Wellcome Collection 810595i

Drawing signed by Flint below the drawing. Backing board contains autograph dedication by him to the sitter, on his printed letter-heading (Sir William Russell Flint R.A., Peel Cottage, 80 Peel Street, Campden Hill, W8. Park 6561)