Sime Gallery Receives Lord Lieutenant’s Award For Its Community Support

Published on: 31 Aug, 2021
Updated on: 30 Aug, 2021

By Jan Messinger

The Sime Gallery at Worplesdon Memorial Hall has been presented with the Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey’s award for its outstanding community support.

Lady Elizabeth Toulson (pink sweater), presents the award to the chairman of the trustees, Mary Broughton.

Deputy Surrey Lieutenant, Lady Elizabeth Toulson, presented the award on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant, Michael More-Molyneux.

The citation included: “You have more than risen to the challenges and concerns brought about by the pandemic. On behalf of the county, May I add my thanks for all your hard work, commitment, and selfless dedication.”

Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey’s award to the Sime Gallery for its outstanding community support.

This surprise presentation of the award was given on the first formal thank-you tea for some of the many Sime Gallery and its Ta Ta café volunteers by the chairman of its trustees, Mary Broughton.

The nine trustees of the gallery say they are truly delighted to receive the award.

The Sime Gallery houses the work of artist Sidney Sime (1865-1941), who lived at Perry Hill, Worplesdon from 1904 until his death.

Sime was both a painter and an illustrator. When his wife Mary died in 1949 a sizeable amount of artwork by her late husband in her possession was donated to Worplesdon. The sale of their home Crown Cottage enabled the gallery to be created inside in 1956 inside Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

Now run as an charitable incorporated organisation, the gallery and its Ta Ta café, is open on Wednesdays and Sundays from 2pm to 4pm.

It’s business plan and fundraising strategy, with funding by the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund, has resulted in extra activities including hosting children’s workshops, group visits, talks and recruiting extra volunteers.

Despite the challenges due to the pandemic, the trustees and the volunteers have continued their dedicated work for the gallery. Open hours have now been increased and visitor numbers are slowly rising.

Along with a new website, a range of new greetings cards are now on sale, plus new marketing material. And the generosity of local people including the Jolly Farmer pub on Burdenshot Road, Ewbank’s auctioneers, along with local individuals and The Arts Society, is much appreciated.

The hand-made wood and resin platter in Sime Gallery corporate colours is put to good use!

One generous person from Jacobs Well gifted a hand-made wood and resin platter in Sime Gallery corporate colours to be used in the Ta Ta café.

The lengthy process of a project enquiry form to the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund for the gallery’s audience development is being worked on and should be submitted soon.

Due to the pandemic, a celebration in 2020 to mark the gallery’s 65th anniversary will now be celebrated in 2022 when Worplesdon Memorial Hall celebrates its centenary.

Click here for the Sime Gallery’s website.