Co-chairs step back as Hall for Cornwall names new Chair of Trustees.

Our Co-Chairs, Chris Pomfret OBE and Dame Rosemary Squire, are to retire from the roles, becoming Honorary Vice Presidents, after successfully steering Hall for Cornwall through the ambitious £26m transformation of the building.

Chris Pomfret OBE and Dame Rosemary Squire with Hall for Cornwall Youth Dancers

We're excited to announce that taking over as Chair of Trustees is Lord Hutton of Furness, John Hutton.

Julien Boast, CEO and Creative Director said: “We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to Chris and Rosemary for their guidance, encouragement, support and friendship over the years, not least during our recent capital project and the challenges of the pandemic.

“Chris has furnished us with his immense local knowledge and international marketing and brand expertise, and Rosemary’s unparalleled experience of the UK theatre scene has brought invaluable insight in making us a big-hitting presenting house nationally, which is home to world-class entertainment. We’re delighted Chris and Rosemary will stay on as Honorary Vice Presidents, as we look to another crucial phase for the growth of Hall for Cornwall”

Dame Rosemary Squire joined the Hall for Cornwall Board in 2008, becoming Co-chair in 2016. She co-founded Ambassador Theatre Group in 1992, which has gone on to become the world’s number one live-theatre company. In 2017 she co-founded Trafalgar Entertainment, a premium international live entertainment business focussed on new productions and the distribution of live-streaming innovative content.

Reflecting on her time as Co-chair and 14 years as a Trustee at Hall for Cornwall, Dame Rosemary said: “I’m hugely proud of what we have achieved, especially in recent years securing major investment from our partners to give Cornwall and the region a world-class venue that is accessible to all. I’m honoured to become Vice President as Hall for Cornwall enters an exciting new chapter.”

Chris Pomfret is current Chair of Falmouth University and a past Chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership. Before that he held global and regional roles at Unilever, specialising in marketing, brand strategy and innovation.

Chris Pomfret added: “Hall for Cornwall has always been much more than a venue and that’s evidenced by the 10,000 Cornish children we reach every year through our Get Creative community work. And I’m particularly pleased to see our new collaborative workspace, HUSA, already being used as a hub for local creatives and emerging artists. I wish the whole team well. With so many areas of our work taking shape, I’m honoured to stay on as Vice President.”

As the transformed Hall for Cornwall looks to the future, Lord Hutton takes over as Chair of Trustees. John Hutton served as an MP for 18 years and held various Ministerial positions before becoming a life Peer in 2010.

On being welcomed as new Chair of Trustees, Lord Hutton said: “Hall for Cornwall is a powerhouse for the creative industries and entertainment in Cornwall, and even more so following its recent transformation. This is a very exciting time to join and I’m very much looking forward to working with my fellow Trustees on forging even closer ties with audiences, communities and creative enterprises across Cornwall and beyond.”

Julien Boast said: “We are delighted to announce that Lord John Hutton is taking over as our new Chair of Trustees. John brings tremendous business and industry experience having served as Business Secretary and held a number of Cabinet positions. He will be a huge asset to our Board and we look forward to working with him.”

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