June talk: The Ken Stradling Collection

 A Friend's group first visited the Stradling Collection in 2014; the first year it opened, and here's the post about that visit. After his death last year, aged 100, I hoped the Stradling Collection would be able to continue operating as a wonderful resource and repository of some exceptionally beautiful arts and crafts items for the home collected over the 60 years Ken was a buyer for the Bristol Guild.

Cleo Saunders, a Trustee of the Ken Stradling Collection gave us a wonderful illustrated talk via Zoom in June. A recording is on our website, but I'll include photos I took from the screen here along with some notes. Cleo started by talking about the fact that after the war, Ken, in 1948 went to work at the Bristol Guild which was responsible for bringing the best of design to Bristol. Local craftspeople showcased their work in the shop.

In the late 50s and 60s, people were interested in buying modern furniture such as moulded plywood seen below.

The Festival of Britain in 1951, an inspirational exhibition to demonstrate to people that art and design was about the future.

Below an interior illustrating many pieces of furniture which became available in the Guild 

In 1958 Ken travelled to Scandinavia with his wife to buy some pieces of furniture in a break from tradition of buying locally made furniture and things to decorate the home.

And also to Italy, buying stock for the Guild, but also beginning his own collection of fine things.

This table has very small drawers in it and the monkey is an articulated wooden toy

This Danish moulded glass piece is 2 foot tall;  glass was one of Ken's favourite things to collect

The Design Council in London would only stock British designed objects, a few of which can be seen below

The desk lamp dates from 1966, it was designed by Robert Welch, inspired by an astronaut's helmet, and reflecting the interest in space. I think we can all remember the stainless steel kitchen items, many of us still may have a kettle similar to the one in the photo below

Below can be seen glass by Sam Herman, jug by John Leach and a wooden bowl by Jim Partridge. We were fortunate to have many of Sam Herman's pieces and the man himself at a talk in 2016. I really like them and thought I'd see how much they are to buy; they're in the region of £5-7k.

Below the oval Rooster dish by Nicholas Vergette is gorgeous, as is the coffee pot by Michael Cardew and the bull by William Neweland

A trip to the Stradling Collection is on the cards again for me when they reopen after an August break. In the meantime, they have a window exhibition of Captain Ed's hand made shirts, what a fabulous idea.

In the photo above you can get an idea idea of what the house full of Ken's treasures looks like, and below a sample of his plate collection

This is what the outside of 48 Park Row looks like, it's small and easy to miss. I think this may be Ken and Cleo together.

Ken retired from The Guild in 2006, and transferred his lovely collection into 48 Park Row which comprises 4 stories and a cellar; it opened to the public in 2014. 

Above is the downstairs gallery area with its memorable Smile sculpture on the wall

Ken Stradling was awarded an MBE, given by Peaches Golding in 2021, and on 7 January 2022 celebrated his 100th birthday. Thank you Cleo for sharing the wonderful story of Ken Stradling MBE, and his legacy.

SM&AG: Work Starts in Major Step

 Good news re work beginning to the fabric of the Civic Offices to convert the first floor into the new Swindon Museum and Art Gallery in a press release this week which can be read here. Friends were asked for a quote which appears in the article. We will keep everyone informed via emails and this blog about progress being made towards opening Swindon Museum and Art Gallery in the Civic Offices.

Swindon Advertiser reporter Aled Thomas wrote the piece and ended it with this sentence: 'Work is expected until at least summer 2024'. This seemed a bit unclear, but maybe it's Aled's interpretation. I'm also unsure why the first floor of the Civic Offices is referred to as the second floor.

Above a photo of Cllr Marina Strinkovsky, Cabinet Member for Culture, Art and Heritage standing between two Dee Ferris paintings on display in Committee Room 3 in the Civic Offices, a gallery space open to the general public.

Friends' 30 year Celebrations held 7 July 2023

 Last Friday we held a party for the members of the Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery at Christ Church Community Centre; it was 30 years and a day after the first meeting of the Friends was held in the main gallery in Apsley House when our Patron Desmond Morris and the Mayor, Doreen Dart were present, along with 160 guests. We have been planning the event for almost a year, inviting former Chairs Ray Ward and Paul Ricketts to our committee's Christmas meal to ask for their ideas and whether they would be involved; they readily agreed to speak and bring slides of  the ceramics collection. Members of the committee really played to their strengths and pulled together to ensure the evening ran really smoothly, with barely a hitch. 

Barbara designed a plan of the room, bought cheese and biscuits, made vegan cakes and did masses of washing up, Brigid made the big cake and bought a topper for it which arrived 2 hours before the party. Rosemary and Martin bought the wine and crisps and served it with David and Lynda who also got out chairs and helped clear away; they also washed the glasses at the end of the evening. Martin and Kate moved masses of chairs and tables before and after the event. The other Martin also helped with the tables and chairs. Angela persuaded people to buy raffle tickets. Politicians and museum professionals came and stayed rather than just dropping in, and the evening was warm without being too unbearably hot.

Friends had some 14 years or so ago, paid for the ceramics collection to be photographed, the resulting slides showed continuously during the proceedings which was really interesting. Many of them had been photographed from several angles so you could see them really well. The running order was as follows:

• 18.45 arrive
• 19.00 canapes from Olive Tree cafe served and chatting
• 19.15 speakers:
• Paul Ricketts Friends' history 
• Ray Ward Friends' talks series
• John Walsh the Journals
• Martin Newman archaeology
• 20.00 eat cheese and biscuits, watch slides, look at Journals and chatting
• 20.15 Cake cutting
• 20.30 raffle drawing
• 21.00 end

Of course it was difficult to keep to the times, but hopefully there was the right balance of chatting and  entertainment. I didn't take any photographs, but was sent some photos after the event which I'll add here. Starting with my favourite one:

You wouldn't think the backs of people's heads would be so good, but it gives a feeling of being in the room; it was sent to me by Phil Dearden, Harold's grandson who is researching a book about his grandfather, has recently joined the Friends and drove from Kidderminster where he lives to be with us.

I've included these general photos of the audience sent by Barend whose empty chair can be seen below as he takes photos

He's captured quite a few smiles

Above introducing speakers and below with Paul Ricketts who was Chair of the Friends before I was

Another nice photo

Here's  Ray Ward talking:

 and below John Walsh, who was on the committee when I joined and talked very movingly about editing the Journals

And here's a photo of Martin Newman who is on the present committee talking about the importance of being an archaeological repository

Then came the cake cutting and the photo just before the cutting of the gorgeous cake with its topper.

and here's a better photo of the cake:

Above Kate, Gillian and Stan looking at a map Stan had brought for us to look at

Above Pauline and Martin Styles chatting

Above a general view of people milling around and below people chatting outside where it was a wonderfully balmy evening

Thank you to all those who came along to help us celebrate and to everyone who continues to support us and Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. I had hoped to have a quote from our Patron Desmond Morris who now he is living in Ireland, could not join us, but I'll pass it on when he gets in touch.