MAY I say through your newspaper congratulations to Allan Brodie (operations manager for Number 8) for bringing to the cinema screen the story of how Number 8 Community Arts Centre first came into being.

Pershore Operative and Dramatic Society (now 25 years old) desperately needed a home, after ten years of hard work, led by Stuart Mcgarry making the Leisure Centre into a theatre for two shows per year. Ray Steadman, who was PODS Chair at the time, called a meeting a this home in 1995 to explore the possibilities of obtaining the old Co-Op building in town.

After much opposition and many meetings Wychavon District Council agreed to buy the building. We then set about running a charity shop and made a rehearsal room on the site. We raised £600,000 in six years towards the new build. Funding applications were made to various bodies plus many fund raising events.

Ray Steadman was the driving force together with Jane Daniels, Keith Goddard, Jan and Dave Browning. Ray called them The Famous Five.

When the building was finished volunteers painted the inside and assembled chairs and tables.

With great excitement the theatre opened on December 4, 2004 with the resident company PODS first show Showstoppers.

Ray Steadman was awarded the MBE in 2008 but died later that year in December at the age of 62 leaving a thriving arts centre for the community to enjoy.

SALLY STEADMAN Pershore