St Ives-a new millennium4/10/023:48 pmLeft: Rex WadsworthPhoto: Stuart Littlewood/Pentax MXAlthough his family is St Ivian, Rex was born inNeedingworth and moved to St Ives in 1968.The family business in the Broadway began inthe 1850s as a mineral water manufacturerand beer bottler. 100 years later it wastransformed into the wine merchants we knowtoday, where connoisseurs will find one of thelargest selections of malt whisky outsideLondon.The old Dolphin Hotel closed in 1968 and Rexbought it as a derelict site, starting work onredevelopment in 1984. He was alsoresponsible for the fine riverside developmentopposite which is now the Manor Mews.In political life he was elected to the oldBorough Council in 1970 and the Town Councilfrom 1974 to 1996, and was Mayor twice. Healso served as an Independent on the DistrictCouncil for 8 years.In 2000 Rex retired from the governing boardof St Ivo School after 24 years as chairman. Hewas also a governor of Eastfield and Westfieldinfant and primary schools for 13 years, andworked on the St Ivo Recreation Centrecommittee for over 30 years.Page 47Right: Susan Painter and The Hemingford PlayersPhotos: Stuart Littlewood/Pentax MXIn June 2001 The Hemingford Players, under the direction ofSusan Painter, put on A Midsummer Night’s Dream at HoltIsland, the base of the 2nd St Ives Sea Scout Group. Theyplayed for a week and the proceeds of each night’sperformance went to different charities. This was the first timethe island had been used for outdoor theatre, an initiativeenthusiastically supported by local people.Susan remembers being ‘entranced’ at the tender age of 7when her father took her to see Macbeth, and the magic ofShakespeare has remained with her ever since. Originally fromBarrow-in-Furness, she worked as a professional photographerin the North of England. By the time she moved to HemingfordAbbots in 1995 she had given up photography and acting filledthe artistic void. She started Hemingford Players with LesleySims. Every production is for charity and has a new cast exceptfor a very small core of regulars.Their next project is Macbeth in 2002.Some of the Midsumer Night’s Dream cast, left to right: MarkHebert (Quince), Jeremy Bays (Mustardseed), Alison Brunnock(Moth), Karen Bays (Hippolyta) and Bob Bright (Egeus andPeaseblossom).He’s a keen gardener, which is just as wellwith 17 acres to look after.Page 47
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