It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Alan Wright following a period of illness.
Alan joined Trowbridge Town Hall, as Director, in February 2022, after a successful career in the arts, to oversee the running, refurbishment and re-opening of this fantastic local amenity.
The original purpose of Trowbridge Town Hall when it opened in 1889, was “for the benefit of the inhabitants of the town for ever”, and Alan believed passionately in this vision, which remains to this day.
Alan was instrumental in ensuring that Trowbridge was one of only five communities across England that performed The Four Winds (The Odyssey), adapted from Homer’s Odyssey by local writer, Florence Espeut-Nickless, as part of National Theatre’s Public Acts programme. Performed by Trowbridge residents, the performances took place at Trowbridge Town Hall, as well as the National Theatre in London.
Following the closure of the Town Hall for refurbishment in July 2023, Alan has tirelessly raised an astonishing amount of money from small and large donors, to enable the fit-out of the newly imagined Town Hall which was not funded as part of the Future High Streets refurbishment by Wiltshire Council. At a time when many music venues across the country have had to close, Alan was determined to make the Town Hall a beacon of creativity and an incubator of local young talent. He very much saw this as his legacy.
The staff and Trustees will work together to ensure that Alan’s legacy is one he’d be proud of. We’d like to invite anyone who feels they can, to help us achieve this. As Alan wasn’t at the end of his fundraising work it would make a huge difference if anyone felt able to make either a one off or regular donation in his name. Donations can be made here.
The Town Hall aims to reopen in July 2025, and it is very poignant that Alan will not be there to see this legacy fulfilled.
David Price, Chair of Trowbridge Town Hall Trust
Contact: [email protected]