Until we moved into our new home Beacon Arts Centre was known as Greenock Arts Guild and this remains the charity's formal name to this day. The Guild was founded in 1946 in memory of those who had lost their lives in the Second World War.
Shipyards on the Clyde were targeted by the Luftwaffe and, over two nights in May 1941, 271 people in Greenock were killed and over 10,000 injured. 5,000 homes were destroyed and 25,000 were damaged over the course of these two days. When the War ended, the people of Greenock concluded that the best way to remember the lives of all those who had been lost would be to create a place in which the arts could thrive. It was to be 'something worthy of the sacrifice of the fallen, and of practical value to those who had survived'. When the main auditorium was completed in 1949, the new facilities became central to the thriving arts scene in Inverclyde, with local drama companies sharing the stage with professional touring productions. It was named after John Wallace Bennett, who had played a central role in the Inverclyde performing arts scene before the War. Built in what had been a swimming pool, this was the first new theatre on mainland Britain for twenty years and its creation was welcomed by the likes of Sybil Thorndike, John Gielgud, Benjamin Britten and Vaughan Williams.
Today, the Beacon is both proud of, and inspired by, our roots as a memorial. A gift in your Will, of whatever size, will ensure that the intentions of our founders to improve the lives of people living in the West of Scotland now and into the future.
- Alex Reedijk, Chair
Everyone who tells us that they intend to remember the Beacon in their Will automatically joins the Wallace Bennett Circle, unless they would prefer not. Each year, we host a talk for all members of the Circle and their selected guest. The talk is followed by a question-and-answer session and a glass or two of wine. The proceedings are concluded in time for guests to attend a performance in one of our theatres. All members of the Wallace Bennett Circle will be listed in our annual report.
John Wallace Bennett was a keen amateur performer whose family ran a Gentlemen's Outfitters in Greenock. He joined the RAF and become a Flight Lieutenant before he lost his life in Singapore in 1944. It was his love of the performing arts that was part of the inspiration behind the founding of the Greenock Arts Guild and, in 1949, the founding members named their theatre after him. By following their lead, we hope that his love of the performing arts and their potential to have a huge impact on people's lives will live on.
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