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BECOMING A VOLUNTEER
Friends of the Grand
Many people ask to assist the theatre in some way. The Friends of the Grand membership includes 150+ active volunteers. They enjoy helping us in many ways. The work is very rewarding and also provides volunteers with a heightened sense of belonging to the Grand Theatre.
Friends of the Grand Committee
John Buck – Chairman
Alan Sears FCA – Treasurer
Penelope M Marshall-Kalina LLB (Hons) LLM – Secretary
Barry Band
John Grady
Pat Hayes
Kath Hayward MBE
Angela Smith
Kath Wilsdon
Offering a warm welcome to theatregoers, Friends’ volunteers assist front of house, selling programmes, tea, coffee, and orange juice and generally assisting the ushers. The volunteer Friends work as part of a weekly-team on matinees or designated evening shows.
We also have a Friends Publicity Team which meets regularly on Thursdays to help with coordinating mailings, gathering promotional and publicity material or just helping promote shows by arranging poster and leaflet distribution to shops and venues. This is great for the theatre and also gives an opportunity for morning coffee and chat about theatre events at the same time!
If you think you would like to become a volunteer, please contact the Friends’ office on 01253 743300 or use the contact form.
Here is what some of our current Volunteers have to say:
“I travel 120 miles each time I volunteer at Blackpool Grand. Why? Well I want this beautiful theatre to be around forever. Personally, it has given me valuable experience that I have been able to get paid work from at other theatres; from the Friends of the Grand to the top management there is a great team of people here who have become friends; I get the opportunity to see shows and meet celebrities that would otherwise be beyond me; and I am training to be an Audio Describer for the Blind with sponsorship from the theatre. So many theatres nowadays are impersonal, I always say "Thank you and goodnight" to the theatregoers as they leave so they are left with a friendly impression. It sums up what I think going to the Grand theatre is all about... a good night out in good company with a variety of shows on offer so you can return again to be amongst friends. And being a Friend of the Grand volunteer is the same. Any time given via Friends of the Grand helps the theatre to keep going. I would strongly recommend you join"
- Irene Ryan from the Wirral, Merseyside
“The theatre was a Life-Saver to me and my wife after retiring from a very busy business and wondering what to do next. After 26 years of voluntary work we are just as keen, although it has been curtailed slightly through ill health. We have formed long term friendships over the years with fellow volunteers.”
- Joe and Gladys Howarth
"I just love it! It’s a lovely hobby coming to help in these beautiful surroundings with such a magical atmosphere. I enjoy meeting the patrons – some come so often you get to know them. The staff are very friendly too. Some people ask how much I get paid and are amazed when I say ‘nothing’ – I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it."
- Connie Ward
The Grand Theatre thanks all those Friends who give their time freely to assist the Grand in its day to day operations. Our continued independence and survival is largely due to the magnificent contributions of volunteer time by the Friends of the Grand. Volunteers number over 100 out of the Friend’s membership of 3,300.
Volunteer Ann Royle: One of the friendly members of our coffee team.
Front of House
Susan Armstrong
Edith Armstrong
Sue Arthur
Doris Atkins
Yvonne Bennett
David Birtwistle
Deborah Blanchard
Angie Blandford
Shirley Borlant
Ken Bowe
Sarah Bowns
Susan Bradley
Debbie Braithwaite
Arthur Brecknell
Sarah Brocklebank
Greta Cartmell
Evelyn Cliff
Betty Clarke
Marian Cochran
Anne Colledge
Alan Corbett
Christine Corbett
Jacqui Crosby-Rowe
Diana Day
Lisa Degg
Ann Dobson
Brenda Dugdale
Margaret Dunne
Rosemary Eld
Mike Evans
Margaret Fallows
Audrey Forrest
John Grady
Margaret Grady
Linda Greatorex
Alan Gregson
Barbara Gribbon
Anne Hackett
Gillian Hagan
Paul Haigh
Ann Hart
Liz Heaney
Rob Hewitt
Chris Horrocks
Kath Horton
Anne Hoyer
Gladys Howarth
Joe Howarth
Jean Howarth
Pat Jeffs
Ron Jeffs
Pauline Johnson
Margaret Kerekjarto
Chris Kitchener
Freda Kitt
Stella Lomas
Julie Lindsay
Gillian Lee
June Lee
Dot Malone
Barry Marshall-Kalina
Eileen Masson
Francis Masson
Theresa McAdam
Ann McGilloway
Jane O’Donnell
Barbara Ormerod
Jean Pilling
Connie Poole
Susan Poole
Dorothy Porter
Geraldine Porter
Jean Proudfoot
Sue Richards
Anne Robson
Arthur Rumfitt
Irene Ryan
Gina Saunby
Julie Sears
Carol Sheppard
Gill Singer
Angela Smith
John Smith
Sheila Stevens
Betty Stott
Pauline Swain
John Taylor
Bob Thompson
Michelle Threadgold
Connie Ward
Christine Watkins
Irene Watson
Shirley Whittingham
Lorna Williams
Sharon Wilkinson
Joan Wilmot
Lesley Wood
Pam Youles
Coffee
Dorothy Bessey
Shirley Cadman
Francis Carr
Margaret Dutton
Harry Dutton
Glenys Ellis
Maria Hill
Madeline Hobson
Margaret Hunt
Ann Kelly
Freda Kitt
Marilyn Klyve
Freda Lyne
Pat Napier
Beverley Riley
Ann Royle
Tony Royle
Maureen Tew
Pat Whittingham
Mailing
Joyce Arthur
Hazel Cherry
Betty Clarke
Colin Clarke
Elizabeth Clarke
Frances Carr
Liz Griffiths
Madeleine Hobson
Joan Holden
Patricia Horabin
Margaret Hunt
Myra Jeffrey
Dennis Lewis
Teresa McAdam
Joan McAndrews
Vera Mills
Pat Napier
Richmond Neale
Jane Neale
Ann Royle
Tony Royle
Margaret Sears
Angela Smith
Connie Ward
Keith Ward
Josie Ward
Kath Waterworth
Jan Wright
