caring for our city

Sir Sidney Guy Kimber [1873 -1949]

First became a Councillor in 1910 and was elected Mayor 1918-1920. Later he was elected Alderman.


Under his leadership he promoted the building of the Civic Centre, law courts and Northguild  with its concert hall and organ and the Art Gallery. .Kimber also acquired the land for the  Southampton Sports Centre at Lordswood  and with great foresight the land for the city's municipal golf course. As the use of the site raised some opposition, he did a deal with his Labour opponents that land for social housing [to be known as the Flowers Estate as each street was appropriately named after a flower] would be allocated in exchange. He was knighted for his services in 1935.  Kimber published his autobiography  Thirty Eight Years of Public Life in Southampton.


Kimber welcomed the Duke and Duchess of York [later King George and Queen Elizabeth] in 1932 to open the Civic Centre and this event is available to view on newsreel footage on the British Pathe website www.britishpathe.com/ In 1938 on a wet showery day, the Duke and Duchess of Kent opened the Sports Centre.

In the SCC Archives there is material on Kimber's council service. including photographs of the building of the library and Civic Centre.
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