Written by: South Bank Centre (Press Release amended by Classical Source)
The South Bank Centre launches the nationwide Love the Festival Hall project.
This is the first phase of a major undertaking to form a living archive of memories of the Royal Festival Hall (RFH) and the 1951 Festival of Britain. The Hall was a symbol of Britain’s emergence from post-war gloom and was the centrepiece of the Festival of Britain; it holds a special place in the hearts of millions of people from across the country.
The South Bank Centre wants to hear from a broad range of people whose memories reflect the Hall’s importance in their lives, whether as concert-goers, performers, staff or simply those who value such a welcoming open space in the middle of London. Memories from last week are as welcome as those from the 1950s.
Jude Kelly, Artistic Director of the South Bank Centre said: “The Festival Hall was originally known as ‘The People’s Place’ and we hope that Love The Festival Hall will celebrate the place it holds in people’s affections. I believe the re-furbished Hall will provide future generations with their own rich treasure trove of memories.”
People’s memories will play a prominent and creative part in the celebration of the re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall in 2007 when the current major refurbishment of this iconic building has been completed. The charity, Age Exchange, whose expertise is in reminiscence work, is collaborating with the South Bank Centre, playing a major part in the project.
Jude Kelly’s own memory concerns the Brian Wilson concert in February 2005. She recalls: “My early heroes were the Beach Boys, so when Brian Wilson disappeared from view I mourned him as if he were dead. When I took my two teenage children to see him in the Smile concert it was like watching a man on a tightrope crossing a gorge with the entire audience willing him to succeed. Unlike me, my children had no memory of Brian’s glory days, but at the end of the concert they jumped to their feet, recognising his greatness. The Festival Hall gave Brian the chance to become what he once was. The downside is that now my children think they discovered him.”
Memories can be submitted by email, post, or can be left at the Memory Box, which is in place in the South Bank Centre Box Office on Festival Riverside.
To submit a memory, click on the following link:
Or you can post your story to:
Freepost RRAE-ZBTX-HEXX
Royal Festival Hall
The South Bank Centre
Belvedere Road
London
SE1 8XX
Or visit:
Memory Box, in the South Bank Centre Box Office on Festival Riverside, in front of the Royal Festival Hall.