Jim's Cutty Sark memories
When the Cutty Sark went up in flames, it was a moment of personal sadness for one Black Country man, who spent years lovingly creating a replica model of the ship. When the Cutty Sark went up in flames, it was a moment of personal sadness for one Black Country man, who spent years lovingly creating a replica model of the ship. Jim Morris, aged 88, a commercial artist all his working life, has long been fascinated with the 19th century clipper. The vessel now faces a decade of restoration work after suffering £10 million of damage in a fire last week. Mr Morris, of Prestwood, near Stourbridge, who also followed his artistic passion in his spare time, has built up a large collection of paintings and models. But the prize of his collection was once a model of the Cutty Sark. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Jim Morris, aged 88, a commercial artist all his working life, has long been fascinated with the 19th century clipper.
The vessel now faces a decade of restoration work after suffering £10 million of damage in a fire last week. Mr Morris, of Prestwood, near Stourbridge, who also followed his artistic passion in his spare time, has built up a large collection of paintings and models.
But the prize of his collection was once a model of the Cutty Sark.
Mr Morris started work on the piece before the start of the Second World War, when he served in the Army.
After completing his military service he returned to the project.
The work took years to complete and, once finished, the piece proved too big to display at the home he shared with his wife.
He put the model up for sale and it was snapped up by an American collector who paid more than £1,000.
Mr Morris continued making models and paintings and now staff and other residents at the Prestwood Nursing Home where he lives, are being treated to a special exhibition.
Mr Morris, originally from London, moved to Prestwood following the death of his wife last year to be closer to his niece, Pat Kirkham, who lives in Kinver.
She said: "Obviously, the events of last week regarding the Cutty Sark brought back memories for him about building the replica years ago."
