Our Heritage

There were some amazing people involved in the founding committee of the 1929 Welwyn Drama Festival. Read on to find out more about Sir Fred, Charles and Dame Flo…

FJOSir Frederic J. Osborn

  • Pioneer of New Towns
  • Chairman of the ‘Grand Week of Festival’ committee in 1929
  • Founder member of the National Garden Cities Committee

 

 

Charles Benjamin PurdomCBP

  • Founder member of the National Garden Cities Committee
  • Letchworth Garden City pioneer
  • Founder of Letchworth Dramatic Society, 1906
  • Co-founder of Welwyn Garden City
  • Founder member and first Secretary of The Guild of Drama Adjudicators.

“There is greater value in a performance by amateurs who love drama for its own sake, than one by professionals who perform for a living.” C.B. Purdom

 

FloDame Flora Robson

  • graduate of RADA
  • Worked as a Welfare Officer at the Shredded Wheat Factory and greatly involved in local amateur theatre
  • First Stage Director of Welwyn Drama Festival
  • Enjoyed a successful stage and film career in later years, playing ‘Queen Elizabeth I’ in both Fire Over England (1937) and The Sea Hawk (1940)