The Warminster Athenaeum Arts Centre
Official Opening – 5th March 1969
Souvenir Programe, 2/6 in aid of Appeal Fund.
Warminster And District Arts And Civic Society
Joint Chairmen: Peter Wakefield, F.R.I.B.A.
Cllr. Eustace Middleton.
Hon. Secretary: Miss Margaret Court.
Hon. Treasurer: Mr. I.G. Laughrin.
Executive Committee: Miss Margery Royston.
Cllr. Mrs. J.E. Smith, C.C.
Cllr. Emlyn Rees, J.P.
Messrs. J.T.C. Brown,
Victor Harris, A.I.A.S., A.I.O.B.,
George Jones,
Neil Seiler,
David Heading Mitchell,
K.J. Mold, F.C.A.,
Cllr. Michael Stratton, C.C.,
Michael Upsall.
For the Athenaeum Arts Centre
Administrator and Licensee: Eustace Middleton.
Manager: Julian Probert.
Publicity Officer: Mrs. Heather Davis.
Technical Adviser: Raymond Monk.
Management Committee:
Eustace Middleton,
K.J. Mold,
I.G. Laughrin.
John Sneath,
Peter Wakefield.
Secretary to Management Committee: Mrs. Olive Higgins.
Auditors: Messrs. Ralph D. Owen & Co.
Bankers: Lloyds Bank Limited.
How It All Started –
In May 1964 a number of residents of Warminster met and an initial approach was made to the Warminster Urban District Council concerning the future of the old Palace Cinema.
After much discussion and negotiations the Society was formed in 1966 with representatives from potential users. The Society has been registered with the Ministry of Education as a Charity and its Management Committee will be responsible for the running of the building. Successful applications have been made to the Warminster Urban District Council, the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Wiltshire County Council for grants towards the project of restoring the building to full and active use for the community.
To achieve this object a tremendous amount of work has been involved for many people and the Society would like to especially record its thanks to all those voluntary helpers with the decoration of the building and in connection with the seating. Particular thanks are due to the Warminster Trades Council, Warminster Round Table and the pupils of the Lord Weymouth School. Without this help the Society would have had an even greater task.
The Opening Ceremony –
2.30 p.m. Programme of Music.
By the Band of the 4th Battalion of the Queen’s Regiment.
By kind permission of the Officer Commanding, Lt. Col. K.J.
Carter.
March: Queen’s Gunners. Mallas.
Overture: Thieving Magpie. Rossini.
Theme: Exodus. Gold.
Two Russian Tunes: Dark Eyes. Anon., Gopak. Kachaturian.
Folk Fantasy: Hootnany. Walters.
Bandmaster – Peter Mallas, A.R.C.M.
3.00 p.m. Cllr. Eustace Middleton.
Joint Chairman of the Society will welcome
the Guests and introduce
The Rt. Hon. Miss Jennie Lee, P.C., M.P.,
Joint Minister of State for Education and Science
who will perform the Opening Ceremony.
Presentation to the Minister by Nicola Heading Mitchell.
Votes of Thanks by:
Mr. Peter Wakefield, F.R.I.B.A.,
Joint Chairman of the Society and
Cllr. Major E.G.B. Butterworth
Chairman of the Warminster Urban District Council
to be followed by
Dennis Walters, Esq., M.B.E.
Member of Parliament for the Division of Westbury.
The Exhibition of Paintings in the Foyer is of the works
of Local Artists arranged by the Warminster Arts Club.
Flower arrangements by Flora Wall.
Programmes sold by Warminster Ladies Circle.
The Society gratefully acknowledges the donors of seats
and hope that many others will follow the example of:-
D.F. Arundel, Esq.
A.A. Ballard, Esq.
D.C. Bailey, Esq.
T.T. Bassett, Esq.
Dr. Ian Bartholomew.
Mrs. Ian Bartholomew.
George Bateman & Co.
Mr. and Mrs. D.G.E. Beswick.
L.T. Brown, Esq.
Mr. and Mrs. Denis Burke.
D.P. Bonner, Esq.
Mr. J.F.C. Brown, Esq.
Mrs. J.F.C. Brown.
Cllr. L.F. Burgess.
Cllr. Major E.G.B. Butterworth.
P.A.F. Carr, Esq.
Charles Coles Esq. in memory of Mrs. D.M. Coles.
Miss K.E. Currey.
Commander and Mrs. C.R.E. de Jersey.
Mrs. Heather Davis.
Mr. and Mrs. R.R.J. Digges.
Draytons School.
Mrs. H.M. Dumas.
Wing Commander and Mrs. J. Everidge.
F.S. Foreman, Esq.
Miss E.M. Gough.
Dr. R.W. Graham Campbell.
Mr. and Mrs. L. Griffen.
J.L. Harraway, Esq.
The Lord Heytesbury.
Mrs. David Higgins.
P.R. Hill, Esq.
Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Hurley.
Commander R. McC. P. Jonas, D.S.C., R.N.
G.W. Jones, Esq.
H. Kelsey, Esq.
I.G. Laughrin, Esq.
Group Capt. K.P. Lewis.
Mrs. K.P. Lewis.
The Lord Weymouth School.
Mrs. G.M. Luce.
Mrs. M.M. Macdonald.
Dr. C. Murray.
R. McAdams, Esq.
E.C. Mills, Esq.
Mrs. E.T. Mills.
M. Mimmack, Esq.
J.K. Mold, Esq.
Col. and Mrs. D.E.D. Morris.
Cllr. G.H. Nicholls.
Mrs. G.H. Nicholls.
Emma, Marchioness of Northampton.
N.E.H. Oakley, Esq.
K.A. Pearce, Esq.
T.E. McEwan Porter, Esq.
E.M. Rosser Rees, Esq.
M.K. Reeves, Esq.
Miss M.D. Royston.
John Sneath, Esq.
Mrs. Eileen Sneath.
Mrs. R.A. Stenhouse.
Miss D.E. Stephenson.
Mr. and Mrs. E.W.C. Symes.
F.C. Taylor, Esq.
Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Terry.
Sir Michael Tippett.
Mrs. S.D. Tomlin.
Maj. J.C. Walker.
Lt.-Col. and Mrs. W.M.C. Wall.
H. Wales, Esq.
V.C. Ward, Esq.
Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Wheatley-Hubbard.
Warminster Police Club.
Cllr. E.F.S. Whitmarsh.
We apologise if any name has been inadvertently omitted.
For The Project:
Architects:
Messrs. Imrie, Porter & Wakefield, Warminster.
Building Contractors:
Messrs. R. Butcher & Son, Warminster.
J.T. Parsons & Sons, Ltd., Westbury.
Electrical Contractors:
Messrs. W.M. Monk & Son, Warminster.
Upholstery:
A. & F. Howland (Wycombe) Ltd;, Warminster.
Scaffolding:
Kennedy’s Ltd., Bournemouth.
Stage Curtains and Lighting:
W.J. Furse & Co. Ltd., Nottingham.
Paints:
Indestructible Paint Co. Ltd., Southampton.
Ash Trays:
The Bell Pottery, Warminster.
Carpets:
D. Haines, Warminster.
The Society are grateful to the Warminster Round Table for the gift of the Public Address System, Mr. Michael Upsall for the Lighting Feature in the Outer Foyer and Messrs. E.K. and G.L. Butcher for the chairs for the dressing rooms and also the donations from:-
Anon.
S.F. Adams, Esq.
Mrs. E.A. Atkins.
G. Bailey, Esq.
Miss W.M. Barker.
Miss M.S. Baldock.
M. Bennett, Esq.
Miss K. Butcher.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Charles.
Mrs. P. Coombes.
Lt.-Col. B.A. Cooper, L.R.A.M.
Andre Davis, Esq.
Dent Allcroft & Co., Ltd.
Maj. Gen. and Mrs. A.T. de Rhe Philipe.
Geest Industries Ltd.
J.F.R. Gilham, Esq.
Miss N.C. Gray.
Mrs. B.F.M. Hall.
John Hall (Warminster) Ltd.
Mrs. H.M. Hicks.
J.A. Hooper, Esq.
Mrs. J.M. Hunt.
The Revd. A.T. Johnson.
Miss F.L.M. Jolly.
Miss N.G. Jones.
Cllr. H.A. Jones.
Mr. and Mrs. P. Kay.
Maj. P.Q. Logan.
Mr. and Mrs. M. Main.
Mr. and Mrs. D.J. McLean.
E.C. Mills, Esq.
Miss M.D. Robertson.
I. Russell, Esq.
Mrs. J.E.M. Saunders.
The Lady Susan Seymour.
F. Sykes, Esq.
John Wallis Titt & Co., Ltd.
Peter Wakefield, Esq.
Mrs. Peter Wakefield.
Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Walker.
Miss A.A.N. Waylen.
J.A. Young, Esq.
Warminster Youth Variety Group.
We apologise if any name has been inadvertently omitted from this list.
The lighting in the Foyer given in memory of the late Miss May Butterworth.
______
Photograph by courtesy of The Wiltshire Times.
Julian Probert, the Manager of the Centre writes:
“The interest shown by enquiries and the lettings already made have been very encouraging.”
“I hope that all individuals and Associations who are interested in using the Centre will write to me at the Centre or telephone me during office hours at Warminster 3379. Otherwise please telephone Mrs. Olive Higgins at the Athenaeum Club (Warminster 3627).”
“There are many improvements yet to be made at the Centre, particularly with the lighting and seating, but all these will take time and money. The more the Centre is used the quicker these improvements can be provided.”
Two advertisements:
The Athanaeum Club
(Founded 1923)
Members and their guests are welcome
during the interval and after the show.
David Higgins, Hon. Sec.
Tel: Warminster 3627.
After visiting the Athenaeum try
Chinns Celebrated Steakhouse.
Only English steaks
Selected fresh fish
All at reasonable prices.
Orders taken until 10.45 p.m.
Tables may be reserved.
Licensed.
Warminster 2245.
S