AUBREY SYKES
1910-95
Artist (and member of the Wapping Group of artists)
58 Chestnut Avenue, Ewell
Aubrey Sykes in his studio
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum
Family background
Aubrey Francis Sykes was born on 7 October 1910 and christened at Croxley Green, Rickmansworth the following year. His father, William Duley Sykes, an army pensioner, kept the Duke of York beer house (now demolished) in Croxley Green. Aubrey’s mother was Florence Cecile/Cecilia (née Sims) – married 1905 Chatham Register Office. Florence, or maybe she was Cecilia Florence, had been born in Rawalpindi, India (now in Pakistan) in about 1881, so there is a fair chance that William had known her family whilst in the Army*. There was an older son, James William Duley Sykes (born 1909 Folkestone), and the third boy, Bernard Charles Sykes, was born in Rickmansworth in March 1914 (died 1975).
The Duke of York c.1908.Image
courtesy of the Croxley Green History Project
Florence died in 1915, aged 33, and in that same year William married Annie Elizabeth Heritage. She has proved rather elusive, although I believe she was the daughter of Frederick Heritage, who was landlord of a pub in Rickmansworth.
Although William was a publican for chunks of his later life, he was also a serial soldier, signing up for the Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1888, when he had just turned 18, and transferring to the Oxfordshire Light Infantry (latterly known as ‘The Ox and Bucks’) the following year. He served mainly in Burma and India (North-West Frontier)* and left the Army as a Sergeant in 1909. However, he signed on again in 1914 and was on home service until 1919. He died on 13 March 1922 in Cudham, Kent, although his usual address was in Watford.
James William Duley Sykes
Aubrey’s elder brother, James, was also a serviceman, but this time in the RAF. He joined in 1924, three days after his 15th birthday and eventually found himself on active service in Mesopotamia (Iraq to all intents and purposes), which was then administered by the British.
‘Mosul Fire Brigade’, 1920s/30s, with James Sykes and colleague
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum (from an album lent by Bill Owen)
Like his father, James was involved in quelling uprisings against the British and, in particular, he was awarded the General Service Medal with Northern Kurdistan clasp for services against rebellious tribesmen in 1932.
‘Front Gun on the Range’ – Westland Wapiti J.9409 of 30 Squadron
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum (from an album lent by Bill Owen)
In April 1942 James was a Warrant Officer (Observer) in 150 Squadron, aboard a Wellington bomber, which had departed from RAF Snaith in Yorkshire, piloted by Group Captain Eric Bingham Webb, en route to bomb Poissy. The plane went down in flak near Villacoublay, Paris; there was just one survivor from the crew of six – Sergeant Christopher W Maltby – who was rescued from the burning aircraft by a French civilian and taken prisoner. James was buried at Les Gonards Cemetery, Versailles.
Aubrey
In the 1939 Register, Aubrey, now a commercial artist, was living with his step-mother in Watford. He had studied art at the Royal Academy and exhibited there when he was only 17 years old. From 1938 he was a member of the Pastel Society and in 1940 he was elected to the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colour.
Before we get more deeply into the art, I should mention Aubrey’s military service, although I know very little about it. According to the London Gazette, he had been a Bombardier and was awarded an Emergency Commission in the Indian Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1942. In the photo below he appears to be a Captain, but I haven’t found any further records as yet. Mike Smith, Curator and Trustee of The Hockey Museum in Woking, knew Aubrey personally and confirms that he served in India.
Aubrey Sykes in army uniform, 1940s
Image courtesy of Sharon Wilkinson ©2021
On 9 September 1950 at Shilton Church, Oxfordshire, Aubrey married Norah Wilkinson and they settled at 58 Chestnut Avenue in Ewell.
Aubrey and Norah on their wedding day
Image courtesy of Sharon Wilkinson ©2021
And, while we’re on the subject of the wedding photo, have a look at this next picture.
Interior of 58 Chestnut Avenue, with the wedding photo displayed on the dresser
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum
We shall progress to weightier art matters shortly, but, staying with the Chestnut Avenue house, Norah must have been driven to distraction by Aubrey’s habit of sketching and painting household contents, which he presumably removed from their rightful place for the purpose. Mainly, these were studies for larger works.
Sketch of kitchen contents by Aubrey Sykes
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum
Nor was Aubrey above acquiring props from neighbours. These charming puppet studies also feature toys that he borrowed from the children next door.
Two puppet studies by Aubrey Sykes
Images courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum
And these next two appear to be studies for a full-scale painting of a ceremonial event featuring the 2nd Battalion of the Mercian Volunteers.
Images courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum
Aubrey was a founding member of the Wapping Group of artists and, technically at least, their activities began in 1939. The basic idea was that the Group would have no more than 25 members and would meet up to paint (mainly) beside the Thames between April and September. There was, of course, a major impending obstacle, in the shape of WW2, so it was not until 1946 that the Group organised themselves properly and recommenced activities. The Group still exists today and some very well-known painters have been/are members. The current President is Surrey-based Roger Dellar, who works in a range of media, as did Aubrey. You can see a selection of the Wapping Group’s work on their website.
Here is a delightful pastel portrait of Norah.
Portrait of Norah Sykes, by Aubrey Sykes
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum
And, in the photo below, you will be able to spot the same picture hanging on the wall in the Sykes house.
Aubrey with some of his paintings
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum
Aubrey travelled all over the world to paint and accepted commissions for particular subjects. The aforementioned Mike Smith of the Hockey Museum said that some years ago he was exploring a project to do a series of hockey paintings. The first was to be ‘The Hockey Makers’ (i.e. the people who make the sticks, without which there would be no hockey) and this is what Aubrey produced.
The Hockey Makers, 1984, by Aubrey Sykes
Image © The Hockey Museum and used with permission
Aubrey died on 14 June 1995, still of 58 Chestnut Avenue. Norah returned to her roots in Oxfordshire and died there on 3 December 2000.
Linda Jackson, April 2021