New William Morris Stained Glass Window Unveiled

On Sunday June 16th a specially commissioned stained glass window commemorating William Morris and designed by local stained glass artist Gareth Harmer was unveiled at William Morris House Wimbledon.

The William Morris window measures is 2.7m tall and 1.56 m wide and took around three months to design and build.  It is framed in a specially designed oak frame.  It can be seen at the front of William Morris House at 267 The Broadway.

Peter Walker the Chair of William Morris House said: “This window seeks to build on the local artistic legacy of Morris who works were nearby at Merton Abbey Mills south Wimbledon.  Apparently Morris often walked from his house in Hammersmith to Merton Abbey via Wimbledon and past our house.  We like to think if he walked past today he would be cheered by this colourful and joyful window.”

William Morris Stained Glass Window

William Morris Stained Glass Window with Tony Kane’s grandson, Otis Facer

The window was the idea of local resident and the Wimbledon Bookfest founder, Tony Kane and commissioned by the management committee of William Morris house and cost around £13,500.

Tony sadly passed away recently, and the unveiling will be performed by his wife Maggie Kane. The window in the style of Morris contains the following words:

 

“This window, inspired by Tony Kane, seeks to promote art as championed by the socialist, and artist, William Morris.” 

“History has remembered the kings and warriors, because they destroyed; art has remembered the people, because they created.”

“We are only the trustees for those who come after us. “

William Morris (1834 – 1896)

 

William Morris House is opposite the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon Broadway at 267 The Broadway Wimbledon London SW19 1SD.  It houses the office of Wimbledon Labour Party and provides meeting rooms for local community groups.  The house was officially opened in September 1922 by the Rt Hon Arthur Henderson who later became Home Secretary.  The house contains two original Morris windows given by a local suffragette in 1930. Details about the house can be found on https://williammorrishouse.org.uk.archived.website/our-history.html

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Wimbledon Rainbow – Culture at its most vibrant!

A new rainbow crossing has landed in Wimbledon to celebrate the town’s inclusivity, welcome its first LGBT+ bar, and support this year’s Pride in London events.
Love Wimbledon BID, worked with Merton Council to install a Rainbow Crossing in Wimbledon Broadway next to New Wimbledon Theatre and the recently opened CMYK bar. The multi-coloured crossing has been created in the design of the Rainbow Flag – which has been adopted, across the globe, as a symbol to celebrate the LGBT+ community and its diversity. The crossing aims to delight and bring a smile to everyone using it, whilst sending out the Welcome to Wimbledon message.

Helen Clark Bell, the Chief Executive of the Love Wimbledon bid, said: “The bright, beaming rainbow that has landed on Wimbledon Broadway celebrates Wimbledon’s new LGBTQ bar which is a beacon of the town centre’s inclusive community. Building a sense of pride in Wimbledon has been a key objective for Love Wimbledon. What better way to celebrate this than to have a rainbow pedestrian crossing installed outside CMYK, the first LGBTQ Bar in Wimbledon.”

Cabinet Member for Women and Equalities, Councillor Laxmi Attawar said: “We are really proud to have created a Rainbow Crossing in our borough to show a blaze of colourful support for members of the LGBT+ community. We want to extend a warm welcome to the CMYK bar which is a wonderful addition to the diverse cultural offer we have in Merton.

Patrick Lyster-Todd, Secretary of Merton LGBT+ Forum, said, “This is an amazing and symbolic undertaking by the London Borough of Merton, not just to mark this year’s Pride in London but also the opening of Wimbledon’s first LGBT+ bar and club, right at its centre. I have been there several times already and it is the most welcoming, fun and safe place for all, with marvellous staff – but our local LGBT+ community must now rally around and support it wholeheartedly so that it becomes a vibrant new home for all of us.”

Charlie Walker the General Manager at the CMYK bar, said he and his staff are delighted with the welcome they have received in Wimbledon. He said: “There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.”