Alec Penstone - D-Day and Arctic Convoy Veteran

I had just returned home to England from Australia. My dear mother had recently passed away and as I was sorting through her piles of newspaper cuttings, I noticed that one person had repeatedly featured. He looked extraordinarily like her brother, my Uncle John. Like John, the man in the paper had signed up to the Royal Navy at 16 and was even sent off on the same missions - D-Day, the Arctic Convoys and the Far East. Sadly, my uncle had gone long before. But this man was still very much alive! His name was Alec Penstone.

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So when I found myself sitting next to Alec at a VE Day tea in my village, I could not believe it! Mum was right, he was remarkably like my dear uncle - humble, spirited, cheeky and more spark at 100 than most people half his age. We got on like a house on fire, singing all our favourite wartime songs together! I told him how I had finally become patriotic since moving back home to dear England from Australia. He told me he was always wanting to help other veterans like himself. and I thought how great it would be if I could paint his portrait to raise money for his favourite charity, Blind Veterans UK. 

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That night I had a dream - I saw the portrait exactly as it would be, with Alec leaning out towards the viewer, imploring them with eyes that had never forgotten the war, to see and hear his stories, his memories. I could see all of it, even though I had not yet heard his stories! 

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It has been an absolute honour and a joy to paint Alec. After meeting each other at the VE Day tea party, Alec and I embarked on an immersive 4 month painting project together to help raise money for Blind Veterans UK. It's been 4 months of sketching, painting, heroic tales, tears, full-hearted laughter and lots of cake! Many times he would have me so spellbound that I would just stop and gaze at him, enthralled in the vividness of his stories and his lively way of recounting them, gesticulating wildly as if conjuring up these memories for me to literally see them swirling all around him. What you see is what I saw as he spoke - I saw the flames he fought as the Blitz ripped through England; the smoke, so much smoke - our tiny island home was burning but not destroyed. We were the last remaining light in a world that had gone dark. Our beloved flag, the last symbol of home and sovereignty for us and the only remaining hope of liberation for the millions across the sea who had already succumbed to the brutal yoke of tyranny. The darkness was encroaching, but against all odds those lads, those brave young lads gave their lives, gave everything to stand in defiance and save what remained, carrying the roar of their leader: "We shall never surrender!" Alec said as they gathered off the Isle of Wight for D-Day, they knew they may never see England again. Just imagine that for a second.

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We talked about the convoys, what Churchill called "The worst journey in the world." I saw the savage mist, the eery, deep cold of the Arctic, Alec's convoy ploughing bravely through the ice, hounded eternally by the Luftwaffe overhead, torpedoes below. I heard him whisper his haunting, moonlit memory of the lone French spy rowing off to her deathly mission in her cockleshell canoe. Alec never saw her again.

These memories and many more shaped Alec's life, changed mine and helped create the painting.

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Dear Alec, he is one of our last true heroes, a gentleman till the end and an absolute legend. I hope everyone who sees his portrait is compelled to stop and allow Alec to draw them into his world, to share a glimpse of what he went through and sacrificed, day after terrifying day, for six years of his young life to enable us to be free. We owe him and those who went with him so much. It is my privilege to share my painting with and if you would like to help me raise money for blind veterans UK I would be so grateful.

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My original portrait of Alec will be displayed at the D-Day Story Museum in Portsmouth, England, from January 2026. The portrait is a large oil on canvas, measuring 100cmx100cm, plus the frame, so its size and impactful composition is quite arresting! Alec leans forward, almost out of the painting towards the viewer, compelling them to stop, listen, and be drawn in to his memories of his wartime experiences. Alec is keen for the younger generations to be aware and never forget his remarkable generation and what they fought for. It is my honour to be sharing this painting, this moment in history, with as many people as possible through the D-Day Museum, which is Alec’s wish. Opening hours of the museum and admission costs can be found on the museum’s website: https://theddaystory.com/plan-your-visit/

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A limited-edition run of 100 giclee prints on fine art paper, to celebrate each year of Alec’s extraordinary life, are available for purchase, signed by Alec and myself. The prints are unframed and measure 40cm x 40m with a 5cm border which will be signed by Alec and myself, along with the date and print number. These archival prints are priced at £400 each. This run of 100 limited edition prints, will be the only run made available anywhere in the world signed by Alec himself, so they will be truly special and a unique piece of history. If you would like to buy one for yourself or for your school or workplace, or as a gift for a patriotic loved one.

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Production costs, including postage, packaging and insurance for UK shipments, are £138. Prints will be carefully packaged and posted within 7 business days of being received. Overseas shipment will be quoted separately.

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I am thrilled to be donating 60% of the remaining proceeds from each print (£158) to Alec’s favourite charity, Blind Veterans UK. This will enable me to donate a total of £15,800 to Blind Veterans UK if I sell all 100 prints.

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If anyone would like to offer to pay above this amount, 100% of all such amounts will be donated directly to Blind Veterans UK. Please click here to make a donation directly to Blind Veterans UK.

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https://donate.justgiving.com/page/francesca-adami-1/donation-amount

 

Thankyou

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If you would prefer to donate to Blind Veterans UK without buying any prints of Alec's portrait then please donate directly from here.

https://donate.justgiving.com/page/francesca-adami-1/donation-amount

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Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.