We don’t want to do it like that…
As we put together the finishing touches to this summer’s festivities honouring the 200th anniversary of Shelley’s death, SMP treasurer Carol Hayton reflects on earlier commemorative celebrations.
On August 4th 1892 an event was organised in Horsham to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Shelley's birth. In attendance were such notable figures as playwrights George Bernard Shaw, Henry Arthur Jones and William Archer; the actress Alma Murray; poets Richard le Galliene and William Watson and local dignitaries including EH Hurst. A report of the proceedings appeared in the The West Sussex County Times two days later, describing them as 'exceedingly tiresome' with most speeches 'falling flat'. Songs were performed but these did not, apparently, 'come up to expectations' George Bernard Shaw left early, seemingly unimpressed with the quality of the celebrations.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation to Horsham's parish church of a marble tablet, which was simply inscribed with Shelley's name and, in Roman numerals, the dates of his birth and death. This presentation was not warmly welcomed by the recipients, who apparently showed little enthusiasm for memorials, 'to the aethiest poet' The Parish magazine from the same month records 'This is not intended as a monument in his honour, and it is needless to say that there will be no ceremony or public function of any sort when it is put in place. '
The commemorative piece was nevertheless displayed on the wall inside St Mary's church tower, alongside the tablets in memory of Shelley's Grandfather, Sir Bysshe Shelley and his mother and father, Sir Timothy and Lady Shelley. It remains there to this day.
We, on the otherhand, will be marking the forthcoming Shelley anniversary with a geat deal of enthusiasm and we are pleased that the present St Mary's church community are equally enthusiastic about hosting one of our Horsham Shelley200 Festival events. Julian Sands will be performing his show, 'Keats, Shelley, Ghosts and Lovers' in the church later this year. Look our for this and details of the other Horsham Shelley 200 festival in the coming months.
We would like to acknowledge The Horsham Society's publication, ' Shelley His Links with Horsham and Warnham' written by Audrey M. Robinson and published in 1983 where much of the detail from this post can be found. Its well worth tracking down a copy if you can! If you would like more information about 'Horsham Shelley200' or would be interested in sponsoring an event then email shelleymemorialproject@btinternet.com. Please also visit our donations page to support the work of the Project.