Charles Meacham in the Local Press
26 May 1922 Kent and Sussex Courier ART EXHIBITION AT THE PUMP ROOM
Mr Meacham’s Landscapes in Oils
Tunbridge Wells is not lacking in talented and skilful exponents of the higher arts. In literature, science, music, sculpture and painting are to be found followers of repute from this and surrounding districts. An excellent example of this, with regard to painting, is in the exhibition now open at the Pump Room (Masonic Rooms) where over 100 landscapes in oil by Mr C S Meacham of Hildenborough, a member of the New Society of Artists, are on view. If true art is the faculty of addressing and influencing the eye, imagination or aesthetic taste, then Mr Meacham is an artist of considerable talent and skill. The pictures are obviously the work of one who loves his craft and spares no pains in its execution. Speaking generally, the majority of the canvases are creditable productions, showing a due union and conformity of the members of the work to the whole. A well-balanced relationship between colour, proportion and interpretation – in a word, pictures revealing harmony, symmetry and a good colour-sense is the representative of the respective scenes.
The subject matter embraces the environs of Tunbridge Wells, various English counties, Italy, Sicily and South Africa. “A Quiet Corner, Nightingale Farm, Southborough” is a charming study of a familiar spot and “In the Woods, Southborough Common” is a most effective portrayal of nature in all her grandeur. No 33 shows the Tonbridge Road in early morning with distinct realism, and a particularly natural and graphic effect has been obtained in “Golden Autumn, Southborough Common”. Another section treats of Grasmere, Devonshire, Lewes, Lake Windemere and Cornwall, among others and the artist has retained in striking manner those essential old-world and country associations.
Over a score of canvases deal with Italy and Sicily. There is a dramatic touch in Nos 49 and 54, showing Vesuvius and Mount Etna respectively in violent eruption. The recent news that Etna has again been belching forth her molten lava lends added poignancy to this realistic picture. There are various canvases of Taormina, showing the Mola Gate, Mersina Gate, Freo-Roman Theatre, Church of San Panerasio, etc.
On the right of the entrance are the South African pictures prominent among which is “Table Mountain at Sunrise from Bishopscourt” showing the 3,500 feet of granite and sandstone mountain with a foreground of those gigantic pine trees for which South Africa is renowned.
It is only necessary to add regarding Mr Meacham that he has exhibited in the Grafton Galleries, London (1920), South Africa, Liverpool and Scotland and his work will again be on view in London next month.
In the centre of the room is a display all too limited of sculpture by Mrs Gwen Cuthbert*. This talented lady makes a speciality of studies in children, and in “Fire Worship” has shown the true artistic touch. The exhibition is open till June 9th and admission is free.
*(Mrs Gwen Cuthbert would have been Charles Meacham’s daughter, Gwendoline (better known as Wendy Wood): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy Wood (artist)
Kent and Sussex Courier 17 Nov 1922
MR C S MEACHAM’S EXHIBITION – today (Friday) Mr C S Meacham, N.S.A., opens an exhibition of his paintings in the Market House (entrance Castle-street) Tonbridge which will remain open all next week. A local artist, now residing at Hildenborough, Mr Meacham two years ago held an exhibition at the Grafton Gallery, London and last year one at Tunbridge Wells. A member of the New Society of Artists (London), Mr Meacham has spent the last three summers travelling in a motor caravan and several of the exhibits are the result of his tour this summer on the Surrey Hills and the New Forest. For twenty years he was in South Africa where he was one of the leading spirits in the South African Society of Artists. Visitors will naturally be interested in several of the local subjects depicted by Mr Meacham. There is a fine picture of the ancient Port Reeves House, while other interesting studies are a corner of Hadlow showing the tower of the Castle rising in the distance, and the picturesque Follet’s Barn at Hildenborough. Mr Meacham’s pictures are distinguished by their pretty colouring, but they are always in good taste and, without exception, enhance the effect. He has given us some interesting glimpses of the beauty of Nightingale Farm, Southborough. “A Corner of the Farm” and “Under the Oaks” are particularly interesting, the latter being on the site of the old Highway between Tonbridge and the Wells. There is a view of the main road between Vauxhall and Mabledon, and another pretty scene in Vauxhall Lane. Westerham forms the subject of several exhibits, perhaps the best being the early study of the remarkably fine War Memorial in the Churchyard. “Moor House Farm” is another pretty subject. Harvest scenes are specially attractive to Mr Meacham and in his reproductions he gives of his best. “The Valley stands so thick with Corn”, a Dorking picture, “Early Morning after Rain”, another Surrey scene. “With a remarkable Harvest” and “Haymaking at Brasted” are illustrative of this aspect of his work. A “New Forest Glade”, “Beeches in New Forest”, “Morning on the Mole” and “the Mill on the Mole” are striking pictures of his recent tour, while a “Surrey Sandpit” is a gorgeously-coloured picture in painting which Mr Meacham doubtless took immense delight. A room contains many of his Sicilian pictures which show that his artistic enterprise has been rewarded by many pretty scenes of which the best impression can only be obtained in the early morning.
11 July 1924 Kent and Sussex Courier
An Artist’s Caravan
Mr C S Meacham, the well-known local artist, who resided for some time at Hildenborough, is enjoying life in a caravan, and in a clover-spangled field on a spot commanding a magnificent view of the valley lying between Quarry Hill and Somerhill, a “Courier” representative found Mr and Mrs Meacham at home in their caravan, “Scauronian” – so called from the Scaur, a valley on the shores of the Solway in Scotland from whence they first launched out in their caravan.
The story of the design of this caravan is of interest. By good fortune, the man who undertook to construct the “Scauronian” had previously helped to build the “Land Yacht” – the famous forerunner of the pleasure caravan, in which Dr Gordon Stables, the popular story-writer of a generation or two ago, made so many “voyages” and did much of his writing.
Light of construction, the caravan is double-walled, with an air space around and above it to insulate it from extremes of heat and cold, and planned with the most wonderful space economy combined with comfort and convenience. To describes its bed-drawing-dining-room-scullery, with its ingenious appliances and numerous cupboard and shelves, would take more space than is available, but all sense of loneliness and isolation is dispelled by the trilling of Dick, the Hartz Mountain roller canary, and the valve-wireless set linking up the moving dwelling with far distances.
Outside and forming part of the front of the caravan is a “spare” bedroom, constructed on aeroplane lines by Mr Meacham’s son**, who was a “Fighting Scout” during the war. At one side of the caravan is a spacious annexe tent forming a lean-to, and containing a camp bed and deck chairs. It is also the bathroom, a red flag hung outside indicating – not a strike, but tat someone is disporting in the canvas bath inside.
The ”Scauronian” has travelled many hundreds of miles during the four summers she has been in commission and rested in many beautiful spots from the shores of the Solway in Scotland and the lakes of Cumberland, through the Midland and Western Counties as far South as beyond Exeter in Devonshire; has rested in the New Forest and on the Sussex shore. She is now moving on to Otford, in the Darenth Valley, from which centre Mr Meacham hopes to get some interesting subjects for his brush.
**Alan Illingworth Meacham.
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser
23 July 1926
Late Rev G E Weston (PHOTO)
Loss to Leigh
Priest-Astronomer
We regret to record the death, after a long and painful illness, of the Rev. George Elgar Weston, Vicar of Leigh, who passed away on Friday in his forty-fourth year. By his death the villagers have lost a friend and the children a leader, for he took the greatest interest in his parishioners, and more especially in the children, who looked upon him more as a far.
Mr Weston took his theological course at Ridley Hall, Cambridge and in 1905 he graduated BA and in 1909 received his MA. He was ordained a deacon in 1908, in which year he went to St James’, Plumstead. In 1912 he became Curate in charge at Herne Bay, remaining there until 1915, when he was appointed Vicar of St Paul’s Plumstead. In 1918 he moved to leigh and instantly won his way into the hearts of the villagers.
Although taking part in no athletic games, Mr Weston gave the children every encouragement in their sports. Gifted with no mean artistic abilities he was a pupil of Mr C S Meacham, and painted many dainty pictures. He was a member of the British Astronomical Society and took a great interest in music – especially the piano and organ.
The FUNERAL
The funeral took place on Monday at Leigh. There was a large congregation at the service in the Church, which was read by the Rural Dean (the rev. Stuart H Clark) assisted by the Rev L Hook (locum tenens). The choir was in attendance, and Psalm XXIV was chanted, and the hymn “Praise to the Holiest in the Height” was sung. As the recessional Mr H Hitchcock played Chopin’s Funeral March. The scholars numbered over 70, from the Leigh Day Schools were present. The bishop of Rochester conducted the committal portion of the service, assisted by the Archdeacon of Tunbridge (the Ven. L Savill) (lists other clergy present)
Mourners included Mrs Weston widow Mr J E Weston, father, Mrs Burton Mother in law, Mrs Arthur Banker, sister-in-law etc. Also at Church Lord de Lisle and Dudley, the Hon. Geoffrey Hope Morley – also Mr C S Meacham
Lots of other villagers named.
Kent & Sussex Courier in both 16 and 23 July 1926
EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS
BY
MR C S MEACHAM
AT
Mr W J Walter’s
New Galleries
12 High Street
Tunbridge Wells
Kent & Sussex Courier 28 Oct 1927
ADVERT:
A New Departure
OIL PAINTINGS (framed)
May now be obtained from the Artist’s Studio at a low annual rental varying from 10 to 5 percent of the Exhibition Catalogue value. Thus a painting valued £5 can be possessed for 10/-; one of £10 for 15/-; one of £20 for 20/- a year.
This includes Delivery, Collection and Insurance within the Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks area.
If at the end of the year a painting is purchased the price will be reduced 20% and the rental refunded.
100 Paintings to select from.
This offer is open only until Nov 30th
C S MEACHAM The Studio, Hildacot, Hildenborough