A replica medal relating to a local artist has been presented to Macclesfield Museums.

Charles Tunnicliffe OBE RA was a Langley-born and Sutton-raised artist who studied at the Macclesfield School of Art, which is where The Silk Museum is now located on Park Lane.

The Museum has a collection of Tunnicliffe's paintings, drawings and book illustrations, many of which are of nature and in particular feature birds.

In 1975 The Royal Society Protection of Birds (RSPB) presented Charles Tunnicliffe, an RSPB Vice-president, with their gold medal in recognition of his contribution to wildlife conservation. In the 1978 Queen's birthday honours list Charles received an OBE for his Services to the Arts.

These medals were on display at the Silk Museum until August 2 2021, when thieves broke into the museum and stole the two medals.

The crime occurred just weeks before the Museum kick-started a programme of Tunnicliffe events for his 120th birthday.

The local Macclesfield Group of the RSPB gave away the replica, as the original medal also came from the RSPB.

They presented a sterling silver replica medal of the one stolen from the museum. This will now resume its place in the collection at Macclesfield Museums along with the artist's work.

Emma Anderson, Director of Macclesfield Museums, says: "We're thrilled to receive this on behalf of Charles Tunnicliffe who was a master at capturing birds in his work.

"He really was unequalled. The medal will form part of the collection, which we have been exhibiting this year at The Silk Museum, Macclesfield Library and Macclesfield Town Hall. It is a fitting end to our Tunnicliffe celebrations."

Macclesfield: Opening hours to witness the new medal will be Wednesday – Saturday 10-4pm.

Janet Jackson MBE, a trustee of The Silk Heritage Trust and Chair of the Friends of Silk Heritage, added: "It was a real blow to the museum to have these medals stolen and we are delighted to receive this from the RSPB, particularly at this time when we celebrate Tunnicliffe's work in his 120th year."

The news comes almost eight months after the reckless act of theft and vandalism.

No arrests are believed to have been made after the summer theft of the original medal.

David Tolliday, a volunteer from the RSPB Macclesfield Local Group says: "Our local group is delighted that RSPB Council agreed to reissue Tunnicliffe's medal.

"This wonderful and possibly unprecedented gesture by the RSPB shows the true value and contribution of the life and work of Charles Tunnicliffe."

The original medal dates back to the mid-1970s. Tunnicliffe passed away in 1979 aged 77.

Previously, the great naturalist and founder of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Sir Peter Scott, stated "The verdict of posterity in time to come is likely, I believe, to rate Charles Tunnicliffe as the greatest wildlife artist of the 20th century."

Having lived in and around the Macclesfield area since his birth in 1901, Tunnicliffe left Cheshire for Wales in 1947, where he would spend the rest of his life.

The recent Macclesfield Museums Charles Tunnicliffe programme Inspired By Nature was very popular and the Museums had almost 1,000 entries to its Tunnicliffe Art Competition, which was for children to enter.

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See Also: Charles Tunnicliffe 120th anniversary: Macclesfield artist sketches home of a famous local painter.

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