Stanley Sellers

. STANLEY SELLERS
31 December 1933 — 5 April 2013 Honorary Vice-President (2008); Friends of Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery
Stanley was born in Bordesley Green and educated
in Birmingham. At 17, he enrolled in the Birmingham School of Architecture, after graduating in 1955,
he joined Coventry City Council, moving 4 years
later to join James A Roberts Associates; who were
the designers of the Rotunda and had their offices
on the top floor. He stayed with them for 21 years subsequently moving to the ISH Partnership for a further 11 years up to his retirement. Stanley’s list of major architectural projects is large and varied; and includes Mander Centre in Wolverhampton with, at the time, a controversial Barbara Hepworth bronze which won a Civic Trust Award; the Solihull Library and Arts Centre which won a Civic Trust Commendation; The Loft Theatre in Leamington Spa; Wrexham Library and Arts Centre, as well as a whole range of buildings in Solihull and Birmingham City Centre.
He was also a talented and respected potter in his own right, a passionate connoisseur, collector of the visual and applied arts, and an incredibly well informed music lover.
In his 20s Stanley was a frequent visitor to St Ives and was a close friend of Barbara Hepworth, as well as socialising with Bernard Leach and many others from within the St Ives ‘School’.
He was a member of the Friends for many years, later serving as Treasurer; he was created Honorary Vice-President in 2008. Stanley continued to support and advised on the Friends events and activities until earlier this year. He was a passionate supporter of the Museum and its work.
Stanley had a supportive 44 year partnership with Richard Butt, a respected Radio3 Producer and long
term Conductor of the Birmingham Bach Choir.
Their home in Solihull was a happy and welcoming environment to their many and varied friendships. They were great supporters of CBSO and Birmingham Royal Ballet and Sir Peter and Lady Knight were friends as were Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears and Imogen Holst.
He was extraordinarily knowledgeable and interesting to talk to on a host of subjects, never losing his enthusiasm and interest in the world about him, he will be sadly missed by many. A week before he died he told one of his cousin’s he had had a wonderful life, had met many great, good and famous people and that, ’that’s not bad for a boy from the back streets of Birmingham’.
Stanley has made a very generous and significant bequest to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery that is both a testament to his commitment to the Museum and also to his extraordinary life, his excellent ‘eye’, his intelligence and incredible knowledge.
It is hoped that next year there will be an exhibition based on his bequest.
At Stanley’s request his family sold his pottery collection and the proceeds from this sale were split between Solihull Association for the Blind and the Friends of Birmingham Museums. He also included the Friends
as one of only two beneficiaries of donations in his memory.
Graham Allen, A Friend as well as a Trustee of Birmingham Museums Trust
SUMMER 2013 ARTEFACTS 13

Jeffingtons wrote:Conclusion to the Stanley Sellers quandary

http://www.bmag.org.uk/uploads/fck/file/ARTJULYLR_13.pdf

Page 13.

Also seen other images of his work with the same seal. Fairly certain now that this is Stanley Sellers' work. Can an admin add this to Naomi's Stanley Sellers' post please.

Quite impressed that he also did  the Mander centre in Wolverhampton and picked out the Hepworth sculpture that's there.