My last Newsletter item as Chairman! My three-year tenure in this post is almost over. At the AGM you will welcome a new Chairperson. I am sure they will find it as enjoyable, interesting and challenging as I have and my thanks to everyone -committee members et al for their support during this time. Please, please do attend the AGM on 28th June and exercise your democratic responsibilities.

I suppose my major project has been the theatre extension and that goes on a pace with planned construction start date 1st November. We still need to raise £15,000 and sadly I cannot report any further major donations since my last Newsletter. We have had two refusals and now await the outcome, probably in June, of the three other major sponsors that we have applied to. Of course, we continue to try to raise money directly and I ask you please to participate or sponsor someone in the "24-hour Sponsored Reading" to be held at the Phoenix Theatre on 30th June. This is a way in which we can raise many, many thousands of pounds of additional funding (plus what the taxman can add on to it!). Apart from that, it will also be an enjoyable and I hope stimulating session.

Finally, we seem to have hit the jackpot with "Nude with Violin". That played to packed houses virtually every night which gave great pleasure to everyone involved in the production and, of course, our Treasurer who will have received a not inconsiderable bonus for his funds! My thanks to Judith Dredge, the Director, and Ken Farley for all the hard work he put into the production of the play.

Derek Wood

Updated: Saturday, 9, June, 2001