Page 2 - HGS Suburb News 152 - Winter 2022

Free Church hall stage restored

TONY WILSON world, and the application was theatre curtain set, with black
turned down. However, in spring fabric mid stage side legs and top
n 2019, after 45 years of disuse, this year the grant application was border. Church member and
Suburb resident and Free Church re-submitted and this time it was theatrical costume maker Diana
Icongregation member, Tony successful. The Trust grant covered Darrer stepped forward to take on
Wilson, devised a plan to restore 75% of the planned expenditure the job of choosing the materials
the church hall stage to full working and the church Elders agreed to and making the various parts.
order, so that it could once again fund the remaining 25%, so in May The sound system was
become a community resource for the acquisition of items began. upgraded by replacing the ancient
the production of shows and Regular lettings in the hall broken loudspeakers with a pair
performances of all kinds. meant that only two half days were of 15 inch Wharfedale Pro Impact
The plan which involved available each week for the work loudspeakers, a new Mixmaster 10
Work in progress…
installing new sound and lighting to be done and what with summer channel mixer and three radio
systems, curtains and drapes was holidays, pressures of work and microphones. The mixer has all the The lighting system has 10 new sized sewing machines purred
put before the church Elders and covid attacks, it took Tony and his usual facilities including sound LED stage lights and incorporates away down below fashioning
it was agreed to apply for a grant small team four months to effects plus the ability to pair with the six original Strand model 833 curtains, pelmets, drapes and
from the HGS Trust. The timing complete the work. The plan Bluetooth devices for playing stage lamps and a halogen flood- borders out of long rolls of fabric.
was bad as covid had just hit the required the provision of a full music or sound effects wirelessly.
light powered by two new dimmer The final part of the upgrade
racks and all controlled by a 16 involved running cabling to the
fixture Stairville DMX mixer. The rear of the hall to allow the sound
system provides comprehensive and lights to be optionally
lighting capabilities but has the controlled from there rather than
capacity for the addition of more at the side of the stage.
than double the number of lamps With the work now complete
and other effects if required. the stage is restored and ready to
The restoration plan called for host all manner of performances,
the building of a gantry to support pantos, plays, recitals, nativity
the aluminium curtain track three and other children’s activities.
metres above the stage and for Bookings can be discussed by
the old lighting bar to be lowered contacting Eddie Hayden at
by a metre to improve the angle lettings@hgsfreechurch.org.uk.
of lighting provided by the six Commenting on the project
Strand lamps. New steel pipework Tony Wilson said, “I grew up on
and electrical circuits were the Suburb and have many happy
required to support and power memories of shows in the hall in
the new lamps and data wiring the 1940s & 50s. I thought it was
was installed everywhere to carry a shame that it had been sitting
the DMX signals to control the unused for so long, so I developed
lamps. Tony and his two helpers, a plan to restore it in the hope
friend Tim Mynett and church that when it is completed
member Richard Orme carried out individuals and theatrical groups
all this work on the stage while will come forward to breathe life
The end result
Diana and her trusty industrial into it once more.”

WELCOME

TO YOUR

NEW LOCAL

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Claremont Way
NW2 1AJ

Brent Cross Town

Exploratory Park
BXT.UK/SHOPS
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@BrentCrossTown

Claremont Way
Bus Stops
C11 / 102 / 189
Claremont Road
Gussy’s Brent Cross Town is a partnership between
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