ON Saturday the Arts Centre in Devizes Road celebrated its 60th anniversary with tours, presentations and performances.

It was officially opened on Saturday, September 1, 1956 by Swindon mayor NV Toze and Arts Council vice-chairman Wyn Griffith.

The Methodist Central Hall in the town centre had previously doubled as an arts centre. More than two decades later the striking old building would be wrecked by fire, forcing punk band The Clash to switch a gig to another location.

The Devizes road centre had formerly been a dance venue called the Bradford Hall. During World War Two it had been popular with service personnel, probably including some of the American units whose exploits were immortalised in Band of Brothers.

Previewing the opening, we said: “People who used to go dancing at the Bradford Hall, Swindon, would hardly recognise the place if they saw it now after its conversion into the new Arts Centre.

“Whether or not they approve of the changes depends on their views on the relative merits of dancing and culture.

“Nevertheless, if Swindon has lost a good dance all it has gained an even better little theatre, and people who go to the official opening tonight should be agreeably surprised by the striking success which has been made of this venture.”

The estimated budget for the conversion into a 240-seat theatre had been £4,425, equivalent to a little over £100,000 today.

We added: “Few traces of the dance hall remain in the auditorium. The large gilt mirrors have been removed, some of the windows have been covered with panelling and the whole has been entirely and attractively redecorated.”

Following the ceremony we reported: “Swindon Town Council was congratulated on an act of ‘courage and faith’ by Dr Wyn Griffith, Vice-Chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain.”

Dr Griffith passed on a message from Arts Council chairman Sir Kenneth Clarke, who would later make groundbreaking cultural documentary series Civilisation.

Sir Kenneth said: “They take art seriously in Swindon. They are good people. I have great admiration for them.”

The centre itself has been through a number of refurbishments in the decades since, but has always been a key fixture in the local arts scene.