I have been a member of the Society of Sculptors 1970 and a Fellow since 1975. There are many treasured memories of meeting like minded friendly people at functions, exhibitions and other events while serving as a trustee on two occasions .
Sadly some good friends Like Franta Belsky, Philip King, Michael Rizzello and a number of others who have passed now but will never be forgotten.
One of my main memories of Dora House is of Michael Clark, the then president of the RBS (ast it was at the time) and myself going to meet Cecil Thomas in the early 1970's to open discussions about his plans to pass his property, Dora House to the then Royal Society of British Sculptors. At that time meetings were held for a relatively small membership in a Sloane Square hotel, and the Society had one part time secretary, Mrs. Churchill, operating out of a small rented basement room nearby.
Cecil Thomas's amazing proposal was the beginning of forming a strong base and home for the the society that we have and enjoy today. However in my opinion, I consider that a decision made by the RBS council at a much later date to sell the studio and garden with street access to raise funds to pay for feasibility studies for repairing the fabric of the building, a sad loss to the total enjoyment of the property.
Also amazingly and after much determined fund raising effort by members and organisers of the Society, Dora House has at last been restored to its original glory and will remain a secure home for sculptors and sculpture .
I feel a great sense of personal loss that my move to France has severely limited my ability to attend meetings, functions and exhibitions but still cherish those I have attended.
Michael Marriott FRSS SPS, April 2026
Ahead of the Year of the Home in 2026 when we celebrate the Society's 50 years at Dora House, we asked members to share with us their personal memories of Dora House. We will be sharing them throughout 2026 as part of a programme of this milestone, marked also by the delivery of our project Creating a Home for Sculptors. If you have a memory you would like to share, you can still do so via this link.
