As you were: Arts centre marks 50th

Bridport Arts Centre marked its 50th anniversary by re-creating the photo taken on May 18, 1973 when the Wesleyan chapel on Bucky Doo Square was purchased for conversion into a longed-for theatre. The new photo represents those founding figures as well as some of the events that went on to flourish at BAC, such as the Bridport Prize and BACstage, the centre’s youth theatre. Descendants of the original line-up were contacted, including Peter Chapman-Andrews (son of Peggy) and Elizabeth Sporne (daughter of Florence), as well as people connected to the founding of the arts centre such as Sandra Brown and

Miles Bell (who inspired the conversion of the chapel’s old schoolhouse into the Allsop Gallery), and Tristan Allsop, whose father Kenneth was the first president of the organisation (the gallery was named in his honour). Current chairman Barry Lovejoy said: “Tristan is also a regular volunteer at BAC, working on projection for the film society and the From Page To Screen film festival, as is Ingrid Hull – one of its longest-serving stewards –they both represent the hundreds of Bridport people who have given their time and commitment to the centre.”

Sandra Brown MBE is the last remaining member of the original steering group