Ronald Hubert Sims (30 March 1923 – 1999) was a British architect and artist. Influential in the Bournemouth area, he is best known for designing the Punshon Memorial Church[1] which earned him the R.I.B.A. bronze medal in 1958.[2][3] The church was demolished in 2015.[4] In the 1960s, he designed the Broadmead Baptist Church in Bristol - it remains standing and is regarded as a fine example of Brutalist architecture.[5] It was designated as a Grade II listed building by Historic England in 2024.[6][7]
As well as his practical architectural work, he also spent a number of years teaching as a professor of architecture in Lincoln, Nebraska; Austin, Texas; and Waterloo, Ontario.
Early and personal life
editSims was born in Christchurch, then in Hampshire (now Dorset). He married Hazel Sheppard in 1952.[8]
Examples of Sims's architecture
edit- Wallisdown Methodist Church (1954);
- Punshon Memorial Methodist Church, Bournemouth (1957, demolished 2015);
- Manor Road flats, Boscombe (1961);
- Lakeside Restaurant, Poole Park (1961);
- Broadmead Baptist Church, Broadmead (1969).
References
edit- ↑ 1998 Gazetteer of Buildings of Christian Worship post-1914
- ↑ The Architect and Building News, 24th Feb. 1960
- ↑ ITperson (2015-07-24). "BCS Newsletter July 2015 – Bournemouth Civic Society". Bournemouthcivicsociety.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
- ↑ "Punshon Memorial Church — The Twentieth Century Society". C20society.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
- ↑ "Broadmead Baptist Church, Bristol - Inside a Brutalist Gem". The Spoonster Spouts. 2020-04-19. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
- ↑ Brown, Mark (18 December 2024). "Tintin and the terrific tomb: Essex heritage listing is thrill for Hergé fans". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ Historic England. "Broadmead Baptist Church (Grade II) (1489824)". National Heritage List for England.
- ↑ "Ronald Hubert SIMS". Baker Family History. Retrieved 7 April 2024.