I FEEL rather cross that in that two page spread about the Winter Gardens in today’s Echo you only told about all those pop groups and omitted to mention that the Winter Gardens was the home of the worldwide famous Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

When in America some years ago an acquaintance asked me where I came from and I said from Bournemouth, born and bred (I live in Christchurch now), she said Oh yes, you have a wonderful symphony orchestra don’t you?

Not only was the Winter Gardens used for beautiful orchestral concerts with world renowned conductors, it also had the Bournemouth Music Festival, the Bournemouth Schools Choir Concert. World class boxing matches were held there and wrestling matches too. Great variety shows as well.

When I was at school Rudolf Schwarz was the charismatic conductor and our school along with many others used to go there and have an afternoon talk and short concert.

The Winter Gardens’ demise was not due to bookings falling off but because of the council of the time building that awful BIC building, and then they didn’t have the money to maintain the Winter Gardens because the BIC kept needing a new roof.

The Winter Gardens building became so much in need of upkeep and maintenance that the council then said it would cost too much money to put right.

A very old trick. At the Gala Concert, the last one before closure when Sir Edward Heath was the guest conductor, I was ashamed on going to the ladies in the interval to see how leaves had littered the floor because of the unpainted warped windows which were not able to close.

We were promised a new concert hall but nothing has happened. Thousands of people signed petitions to stop the Winter Gardens being demolished.

As you can tell I am still mourning the loss of the Winter Gardens and the fact that our Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra makes its ‘home’ in Poole and not in the centre of Bournemouth where it belongs.

CHRISTINE THACKRAY
Elm Avenue, Christchurch