Selby Clewer
Encyclopedia
Selby James Clewer was an English Architect
.
Born in Morton, Shropshire
, with his father a policeman, he spent his childhood in many different areas in the Midlands. His mother died in 1918. While studying at the Birmingham School of Architecture he won the Pugin Prize.
, he joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit
and volunteered for the China Convoy. They set out in May 1941 and arrived in Rangoon in July. Later he moved to China and was responsible for the design of what became the Convoy HQ in Kutsing, (Chuxiong City) Yunnan. On 8 April 1943 he arrived in Liverpool on the RMS Mauritania
.
He married (Hilda) Dorothy Street at St. Petroc’s Church, Parracombe
in the same year. He then went to Ethiopia
, where he was responsible for designing the Princess Tsahai
Memorial Hospital, (renamed the Armed Forces General Hospital after the revolution in 1974). After a year, his wife Dorothy joined him and they stayed there for nine years.
and later became Chief Architect, a post he held for 21 years. In 1966 he designed the chapel at St Francis of Assisi's Church, Bournville
. He was responsible for the design of Quinton
Methodist Church in 1968, St. David's Church, Shenley Green
which opened in 1970 and the Friends Meeting House in Redditch and the adjoining housing complex, built for the Redditch Friends Housing Trust.
On retirement, Selby was appointed Administrator of Hanbury Hall
and was able to raise the profile of this historic house. Later he and his with moved to Ice House Cottage, in the grounds of the Hall, (where many remember buying garden produce, ice cream and honey sold in aid of charities) and finally to Studley.
He died suddenly on 12 April 2001.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Born in Morton, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, with his father a policeman, he spent his childhood in many different areas in the Midlands. His mother died in 1918. While studying at the Birmingham School of Architecture he won the Pugin Prize.
Work abroad
In 1940, as a conscientious objectorConscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, he joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit
Friends' Ambulance Unit
The Friends' Ambulance Unit was a volunteer ambulance service, founded by individual members of the British Religious Society of Friends , in line with their Peace Testimony. The FAU operated from 1914–1919, 1939–1946 and 1946-1959 in 25 different countries around the world...
and volunteered for the China Convoy. They set out in May 1941 and arrived in Rangoon in July. Later he moved to China and was responsible for the design of what became the Convoy HQ in Kutsing, (Chuxiong City) Yunnan. On 8 April 1943 he arrived in Liverpool on the RMS Mauritania
RMS Mauretania (1938)
RMS Mauretania was launched on 28 July 1938 at the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead, England and was completed in May 1939. A successor to RMS Mauretania , the second Mauretania was the first ship built for the newly formed Cunard White Star company following the merger in April 1934 of the Cunard...
.
He married (Hilda) Dorothy Street at St. Petroc’s Church, Parracombe
Parracombe
Parracombe is a rural settlement near Lynton, in Devon, England. It is situated in the Heddon Valley, on Exmoor.A number Bronze Age barrows exist nearby, along with several other small earth-works throughout the parish. Beacon Castle and Voley Castle both Iron Age Hill forts are situated nearby...
in the same year. He then went to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, where he was responsible for designing the Princess Tsahai
Princess Tsehai
Princess Tsehai Haile Selassie was the third daughter and fourth child of Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen Asfaw of Ethiopia....
Memorial Hospital, (renamed the Armed Forces General Hospital after the revolution in 1974). After a year, his wife Dorothy joined him and they stayed there for nine years.
Work in England
Having joined the Society of Friends, he went to work for the Bournville Village TrustBournville Village Trust
Bournville Village Trust is an organisation that was created to maintain and improve the suburb of Bournville, located in Birmingham. However, during the 20th century it expanded its geographical coverage to include developments in Shenley Green, Lightmoor in Telford, Bloomsbury in Nechells and...
and later became Chief Architect, a post he held for 21 years. In 1966 he designed the chapel at St Francis of Assisi's Church, Bournville
St Francis of Assisi's Church, Bournville
St Francis of Assisi's Church, Bournville is a parish church in the Church of England in Bournville, Birmingham.-History:Land was set aside for a church and church hall by Bournville Village Trust in 1905. The church hall was built in 1913, and the church building was consecrated in 1925. It was...
. He was responsible for the design of Quinton
Quinton, Birmingham
Quinton is a suburb on the western edge of Birmingham, England. It is a Birmingham City Council ward within the Edgbaston formal district, and forms a part of the Birmingham Edgbaston parliamentary constituency.The area is served by .-Geography:...
Methodist Church in 1968, St. David's Church, Shenley Green
St. David's Church, Shenley Green
-History:Until 1970 services were held in the church hall which was opened in 1962. The church was built between 1969 and 1970. It was consecrated on 9 May 1970 by the Bishop of Birmingham Lawrence Brown....
which opened in 1970 and the Friends Meeting House in Redditch and the adjoining housing complex, built for the Redditch Friends Housing Trust.
On retirement, Selby was appointed Administrator of Hanbury Hall
Hanbury Hall
Hanbury Hall was built by the chancery lawyer Thomas Vernon in the early 18th century. Thomas Vernon was the great grandson of the first Vernon to come to Hanbury, Worcestershire, Rev Richard Vernon...
and was able to raise the profile of this historic house. Later he and his with moved to Ice House Cottage, in the grounds of the Hall, (where many remember buying garden produce, ice cream and honey sold in aid of charities) and finally to Studley.
He died suddenly on 12 April 2001.