St Ives-a new millennium - Flipbook - Page 49
St Ives-a new millennium
4/10/02
3:48 pm
Left: Rex Wadsworth
Photo: Stuart Littlewood/Pentax MX
Although his family is St Ivian, Rex was born in
Needingworth and moved to St Ives in 1968.
The family business in the Broadway began in
the 1850s as a mineral water manufacturer
and beer bottler. 100 years later it was
transformed into the wine merchants we know
today, where connoisseurs will find one of the
largest selections of malt whisky outside
London.
The old Dolphin Hotel closed in 1968 and Rex
bought it as a derelict site, starting work on
redevelopment in 1984. He was also
responsible for the fine riverside development
opposite which is now the Manor Mews.
In political life he was elected to the old
Borough Council in 1970 and the Town Council
from 1974 to 1996, and was Mayor twice. He
also served as an Independent on the District
Council for 8 years.
In 2000 Rex retired from the governing board
of St Ivo School after 24 years as chairman. He
was also a governor of Eastfield and Westfield
infant and primary schools for 13 years, and
worked on the St Ivo Recreation Centre
committee for over 30 years.
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Right: Susan Painter and The Hemingford Players
Photos: Stuart Littlewood/Pentax MX
In June 2001 The Hemingford Players, under the direction of
Susan Painter, put on A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Holt
Island, the base of the 2nd St Ives Sea Scout Group. They
played for a week and the proceeds of each night’s
performance went to different charities. This was the first time
the island had been used for outdoor theatre, an initiative
enthusiastically supported by local people.
Susan remembers being ‘entranced’ at the tender age of 7
when her father took her to see Macbeth, and the magic of
Shakespeare has remained with her ever since. Originally from
Barrow-in-Furness, she worked as a professional photographer
in the North of England. By the time she moved to Hemingford
Abbots in 1995 she had given up photography and acting filled
the artistic void. She started Hemingford Players with Lesley
Sims. Every production is for charity and has a new cast except
for a very small core of regulars.
Their next project is Macbeth in 2002.
Some of the Midsumer Night’s Dream cast, left to right: Mark
Hebert (Quince), Jeremy Bays (Mustardseed), Alison Brunnock
(Moth), Karen Bays (Hippolyta) and Bob Bright (Egeus and
Peaseblossom).
He’s a keen gardener, which is just as well
with 17 acres to look after.
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