Club members make time for Sime

A recent talk, delivered with genuine enthusiasm and a huge amount of specialist knowledge kept Club Members enthralled as they heard all about artist Sidney Sime, and the major collection of his works right here in Surrey.

We were delighted to welcome Mary Broughton, Chair of Trustees at the Sime Gallery in Worplesdon, and her colleague Jan Messinger to The County Club for what proved to be a wonderful introduction to the work of Sidney Sime, the prolific artist, illustrator, and caricaturist.

Sime moved south from his home in Scotland in 1904, settling in Worplesdon, converting an old stable block into a studio and quickly establishing himself as an artist in demand. Sime designed theatre sets, illustrated numerous books, and was also a prolific contributor to magazines, with titles such as Punch, Pall Mall, and Tatler eagerly publishing his wonderful illustrations.

But it was his disillusionment with the First World War that took Sime back to his love of painting, working in watercolours and oils to create works that can be seen at the gallery which bears his name, in Worplesdon.

The collection also features works reflecting Sime’s love of the theatre. At the behest of his benefactor and great friend, Lord Howard de Walden he created the stage sets for Ibsen’s ‘The Pretenders’, and Maurice Maeterlinck’s ‘Bluebird’, the latter production providing a fascinating footnote in history.

Opening night of Bluebird at the Theatre Royal Haymarket was what we would call today a ‘star studded affair’, with audience members including George Bernard Shaw, Henry James, Hugh Walpole, and Malcolm Campbell of motor racing fame. So taken was Campbell with the production that he returned home and immediately named his car ‘Bluebird’, a tradition that he passed on to his son Donald who named his ill-fated speed boat after his father’s car.

The latter part of Sime’s left was spent as something of a recluse, although he did still visit his local pub, the New Inn, sitting at his regular table drawing caricatures of his fellow customers. These sketches of Worplesdon folk are still on show at the gallery, and very much appreciated and enjoyed by the relatives of his subjects.

Sidney Herbert Sime died on 22nd May 1941 and his grave in St Mary’s Churchyard, Worplesdon, is marked by a rough block of granite. His patron and friend Lord Dunsany wrote to his widow, ’I feel now that the world has lost a unique character, a loss that is quite irreplaceable’.

In 1949, Mary Sime’s will bequeathed all of Sidney’s pictures in her possession to the Trustees of Worplesdon Memorial Hall for the creation of a gallery solely for the display of her husband’s work, which she endowed with the proceeds of the sale of Crown Cottage.

We would like to thank Mary, and Jan for visiting us to shed light on a magnificent artist with a strong local connection, and urge members that missed their talk to attend the Sidney Sime Annual Lecture, taking place at St. Mary’s Church, Worplesdon at 3.00pm on the 17th of November. Tickets can be purchased on their website here, where you can also find gallery opening times.