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Navy
best customer for penmanship
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Calligrapher
Ray Johnson with the Hydro Freedom of Entry scroll in preparation.
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Ray
Johnson says the Royal Australian Navy is his best customer.
He is one of the Navy’s most specialised contractors.
Ray, 76, from Bayview in Sydney is a calligraphist.
Using his penmanship he writes detailed scrolls.
He did the scroll presented to the Hydrographic Service for its
inaugural Freedom of Entry to the City of Wollongong on September
28. (On this occasion he was under contract to Wollongong Council
to do the work).
“I’m currently working on the scroll for the commissioning
of the new submarine Rankin,” he told Navy News.
“I did the scrolls for her sister submarines,” he added.
Ray began his career in the printing industry when he gained a position
with the John Sands greeting card company as an apprentice artist
61 years ago.
He retired from John Sands in 1987 after 46 years service.
“I did the company’s calligraphy work for 30 years,”
Ray explained.
“I remember one day the boss came and said the incumbent calligrapher
was retiring.
“He asked, ‘do you want the job?’.
“I needed a few extra bob so I said, ‘yes’,”
Ray said.
Ray expanded his talents and became an excellent craftsman.
He remembers when a rolled leather sleeve protected the scrolls.
“These days they usually go in a glazed frame.
“I still regard the Navy as my best customer,” he added.
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