In the first minutes of the Society of Fulham Artists held at Fulham Library on 2nd December 1952, the great and the good of Fulham outnumbered the artists initially. On the committee was The Bishop of London, Dr JWC Wand, who was named Vice President along with the Mayor of Fulham (ex-officio). Two local MPs – Dr Edith Summerskill (Fulham West) and Michael Stewart (Fulham East) a keen amateur artist who eventually served as Foreign Minister in Harold Wilson’s government. Two Councillors: Alderman Mrs Lusher and Cllr Brian Galpin and his wife Ailsa Galpin and Cllr Wallis in the Chair who stepped down in favour of Mr GA Stevens, an artist and Principal of the Fulham And South Kensington Men’s Institute. The preponderance of Council officials on the original committee illustrates the ethos of the Society’s inception, following the fervour of the Festival of Britain Show, of the Council to encourage work by local amateur and professional artists. With an initial membership of 27 members, and under the aegis of the Council and with the support of the library, we have managed to hold and exhibit once/twice a year since 1952. Although there were a few wobbly years at the turn of the millennium, Hazel Leach, Martin Chaffer, Tony Hannaford, David Lauder and Alan Day, along with backing and support from Michael Burchill, brought the Society back from the brink to the healthy, thriving society it is now.
In its time, SOFAP has had many distinguished artist members. But its modus operandi has been to be a Society for all, professional and enthusiastic amateur alike. One of our earliest members was Leslie Wilcox, the distinguished marine artist who painted the Royal Yacht. The painting formerly hung in Britannia’s dining room and is now hanging in Frogmore House, Windsor. Michael Stewart, Baron Stewart of Fulham, Foreign Secretary under Harold Wilson, was President and an enthusiastic exhibitor for many years. On the same committee was Haydn Reynolds Mackey, a professional artist of some renown and Carel Weight another well know professional artist. Peter Gardner ROI, FRSA who was Head of Art at the Fulham and South Kensington Institute was the stalwart secretary for 25 years.
If you’d like to know more about the inception of the Society, and its history do read the small book written by our past Chairman and President Martin Chaffer for our Golden Jubilee celebration.
THE SOCIETY OF FULHAM ARTISTS AND POTTERS
PAST AND PRESENT COMMITTEE HOLDERS
PRESIDENT
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- 1952 – 1990 MICHAEL STEWART
- 1990 – 1992 BARONESS PHILLIPS
- 1993 – 1996 CAREL WEIGHT
- 2016 – 2022 MARTIN CHAFFER
CHAIRMAN
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- 1953 – 1954 C.A. STEVENS
- 1954 – 1963 L. A. WILCOX
- 1963 – 1969 JACK FAIRHUSRST
- 1969 – 1976 RICHARD JOICEY
- 1976 – 1990 JOYCE DOO
- 1990 – 2002 LIZ MACDONNELL
- 2003 INCORPORTAION OF POTTERS
- 2002 – 2011 MARTIN CHAFFER
- 2011 – 2015 CLARE WEATHERILL
- 2015 – 2019 PATRICIA WATSON
- 2019 – 2022 TIM DANN
- 2022 – ROWENA VAUGHAN
POTTERS CHAIR
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- 2003 – 2011 HAZEL LEACH
- 2011 – 2022 STEPHEN SALMON
- 2023 – SYLVIE JOLY
SECRETARY
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- 1952 – 1957 ALISA GALPIN
- 1957 – 1981 PETER GARDNER
- 1982 – 2001 RAY GARVEY
- 2002 – 2005 HAZEL LEACH
- 2005 – 2011 MARTIN CHAFFER
- 2011 – 2022 ROWENA VAUGHAN
- 2022 BRIONY WATSON
TREASURER
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- 1952 – 1953 J.W. GERMAINE
- 1953 – 1955 K. HEMPEL
- 1955 – 1956 B. BRANIGAN
- 1957 – 1976 E. TUDOR
- 1976 – 1980 G. PETTY
- 1980 – 1982 M. CANE-HONEYSETT
- 1982 – 1989 E.MACDONNELL
- 1990 – 2004 F.GUILLE
- 2005 – 2009 M. BURCHELL
- 2009 – 2014 A.VAN MAURIK
- 2014 – 2017 LISA LOMBARDI
- 2017 – 2025 ZAHI MASRI
- 2025 – PETER EVANS
