BP News

Chairman’s ‘End Of Season’ Report

Congratulations to everyone on another wonderful year both artistically and financially. I have deliberately left it to our hardworking line managers and directors to detail just how wonderful because, as you will know, I have been lured back into office for one reason only. That is, to set up and help run the QMT Youth Wing Appeal, to be launched this month 25 years after our official opening by The Queen Mother on 9th July 1983.

The Dad’s Army Gala Night, designed to draw attention to the anniversary and appeal, was a great success both from a point of view of publicity and profits. It is interesting to note that a number of supporters told me they thought the price we charged for it was ‘too reasonable’ and they would have cheerfully paid £20 a ticket for such a great evening.

My most important job in the past year has been working steadily behind the scenes to build up a committee of townspeople strong enough to take the appeal through to a successful conclusion. £200,000 is a lot of money to raise but I believe we have found a very good team to carry it through. Their names are published at the end of this report.

The Appeal Brochure

Great care has to be taken with the preparation of the brochure, now nearing completion. Much of the success of the appeal will rest on this document which will ‘sell’ our case for a Youth Wing. It will contain some genuine and moving testimonies from former members of our Youth Theatre who have gone on to make successful careers as professional actors. When you read these tributes you become truly aware of the achievements of all those who have taken on the important and demanding task of running our Youth and Junior groups over the past 25 years – and how important it is that they should continue.

The brochure itself is the first major donation to the appeal because our printers – Peter, Steve and Paul at DragonPrint – have generously offered to print a thousand copies in full colour free of charge, as their contribution. This is a marvellous gesture for which we are truly grateful.

The first meeting of the full Appeal Committee is planned for the end of July at the theatre so that we can show everyone our present facilities and how we hope to improve them. The public launch will take place shortly after that, in good time for our autumn programme.

How you can help

In the meantime could I ask everyone to think about ways they can help the appeal – not just by making a donation but by organising their own events during the coming year. It could be a quiz evening in the bar, a coffee morning at someone’s house, a sponsored walk or swim. The opportunities are endless, though my suggestion at the AGM that the Queen Bees might like to consider opening a massage parlour didn’t go down terribly well.

Seriously, please don’t worry that the amount raised may seem small compared to the total needed. Believe me – every pound helps. The publicity gained from each fundraising event is as important as the amount raised because it shows we’re all keen to help and mean business.

Here is the list of the good people who will be working hard for our new Youth Wing over the next eighteen months. Please give them all the support you can, and have a terrific new season.

The QMT Youth Wing Appeal Committee

President:

Sir Simon Bowes Lyon KCVO

Patron:

Christopher Biggins

Chairman:

Les Edwards

Secretary:

Paula Downes

Treasurer:

Keith Crook

Committee members:

Councillor Judi Billing

Douglas Brooker

Charles Bunker

Jon Clarke

John Coxall

Steve Dawson

Frank Pratt

Hugh Mulholland

Roger Newman Turner

Maureen Nobes

Morag Norgan

Tim Ray

Rory Reynolds

Chris Saunders

John Simmonds

Tony Strong

Richard Whitmore

Associate Members:

Alan Doggett (Chairman, Hitchin & District Chamber of Commerce),

Keith Hoskins (Manager, Hitchin Town Centre Initiative)

Appeal Director:

Christopher Mann