MESSAGE
FROM THE PRESIDENT :
I often think that St James is like the proverbial swan - all graceful and
serene on the surface but underneath a veritable hive of activity to ensure
that smooth running and to make sure that everything works well !
As you all know, we have a great team that looks after the Centre - Kate and
Dave, Joan, Annette, Fiona, Jim and Kirstin - all there to make sure that
your experience of St James is a memorable one and, particularly for
first-time visitors, that their first experience will make them come back
again and again. Whether you are visiting for a concert, a talk, a seminar,
a training day or indeed a wedding they work to ensure that everything runs
smoothly, that you enjoy the experience and will want to tell other people
about St James.
In addition, your Council, also part of the 'engine room', not only come
together once a month to agree solutions to issues but also sit on the many
sub-committees that really do the work and liaise closely with the full-time
team. Committees range from fund raising to property.
And talking about the property : this is an area that of course exercises
our minds constantly. At present we are starting a programme of works to see
the Whittaker Hall fully redecorated and our premises manager, Jim Willis,
will be leading those works. You may have noticed some water ingress
recently at the back of the Hall in the Gallery - we are liaising closely
with the new Treasury and Resources Department whose responsibility the
exterior of the building now is and they are also looking at repairing the
damage on the forecourt to the stonework and also the 'slipperiness' of the
Portland Stone to ensure that we don't have any accidents.
Other areas we are looking into are a new sound system, the Hearing Loop,
carpet replacements in the Gallery and the Dorey Room and also the
refurbishment of the chairs - really it's like the painting of the Forth
Road Bridge - it never ends but it's all in an excellent cause. So whilst
there may be yet more disruption as the redecoration works proceed, please
bear with us - we shall be doing most of this while the Hall is not in use
but just in case we can't, there may necessarily be some overlap with
events.
With the lettings income on the rooms in the Dorey Centre building up and
the fantastic efforts of our fund-raising committee led by Edward Fattorini
we are able to embark on all these works and ensure that St James remains in
pristine condition for everyone that visits.
Peter Niven
STAFF NEWS
We have two pieces of news for you on the staff front. Fiona Malley, known
to so many of you from your visits to St James over the past 5 years and, as
concert-goers no doubt from hearing her sing so beautifully as a soloist as
well as in the finest of our local choirs will shortly be leaving us for
pastures new and we wish her well in her future career in Public Relations.
The good news is that Fiona will still spend much of her time gracing the
stage at St James.
And absolutely no surprise to personal callers to the Box Office, will be
the fact that Annette Carpentier is leaving us to have a baby. We know that
Annette's welcome and help at the Reception desk has been appreciated by all
our customers. Taking over from Annette will be Carrie Taylor who is in fact
returning to work now that her young family can spare her. Carrie previously
worked at the
Guernsey
Museum and Art Gallery and brings with her a wealth
of experience. Sorry as we are to see them go, we wish both our Leavers all
the Very Best for the Future.
FUND RAISING NEWS
& UPDATE
ANAGRAM CHALLENGE
Congratulations to Andy Hart who successfully unravelled the 50 anagrams in
our recent competition and can look forward to Sunday Lunch for two at the
Marina
Restaurant,
Beaucette. Feedback tells us that this particular
challenge took a good number of hours to complete. We raised the princely
sum of £263 in the process so Thankyou and Well Done to everyone who took
part. If you would like a copy of the answers, please pop into St James and
collect one from the Box Office.
APRIL FOOLS' QUIZ
30 Teams packed St James for this annual fun Quiz and as always a great
night was had by all. With wonderful prizes kindly donated by Bank Julius
Baer and a selection of very drinkable and edible raffle prizes, the evening
raised in the region of £2000. Thankyou to all those involved and again our
Special Thanks to Quiz Master Jamie Doggart whose innovative and teasing
questioning gave rise to so many groans at the same time as providing so
much enjoyment!
J J FOX INFORMATION 'ROADSHOW' ON 14 JUNE
Yes, it's that time of year when we start thinking about the annual J J Fox
Art Competition and Exhibition. Judging this year takes place on 4 September
and Handing-in days in
Guernsey are 23 & 24 August. Further
information and
entry forms are now available from the Box Office. But coming up soon is an
informative session on the competition and exhibition, hosted by the
Collection's curator Mark Blanchard on 14 June at
7.15 pm
in the Founders
Room. Naturally the aim is to encourage participation in the event and
everyone is invited and welcome. Please spread the word among our local
artists, whether they usually participate or not. You will have also noted
that one of last year's competition entrants, Olympia Sutherland, is holding
the Opening to her 'Colours of Morocco' exhibition in Jimmy's immediately
prior to this event.
MORE DUTY MANAGERS PLEASE
We are so very lucky to have the support of our volunteer Duty Managers who
oversee our events at St James. However, with the building becoming
increasingly busy in all areas, there is only so much time that these
stalwarts can give. We are therefore asking if there are people out there
who might like to learn a bit more about this important role within St James
and perhaps join us. You can do as much or as little as you like and in many
cases volunteer to help cover events in which you have an interest.
A DATE FOR
YOUR DIARY .....
Tuesday 1 June - KIT &THE WIDOW
Monday 7 June - RASUMOVSKY STRING QUARTET
Monday 14 June - J J FOX 'ROADSHOW'
Monday 28 June - TASHI LHUNPO MONASTERY - Schroders World Music Series
Monday 12 July - WAI - Schroders World Music Series
Wednesday 14 July - JOHN BYRNE - GUITAR
Tuesday 10 August - CHRISTOPHER GEORGE - PIANO
Tuesday 24 August - VALENTINA IGOSHINA - PIANO
Monday 26 July - THEODORE SAUNDERS - ORGAN
Tuesday 28 September - MUGENKYO - Schroders World Music Series
The 2004 Schroders World Music Series got off to a flying start with the
concert by Zimbabwe musicians 'Batanai Marimba'. And if you have not yet
booked for the remaining concerts in the Series, please take note that they
are booking up fast. World Music has certainly taken off in Guernsey !
