READING Russell Leadbetter’s article on 25 years of the Royal Concert Hall (“Venue set standard and still calls tune 25 years on”, The Herald, October 20) reminds me of the debt the city owes to the late Cameron McNicol who set the highest standards for the new hall under his directorship.
In the lead-up to the 1990 Year of Culture celebrations, including the quickening rate of constructing the hall to ensure its opening that year, I had a small role in attempting to initiate events of a maritime nature to reflect Glasgow and the Clyde. Two ideas came to fruition thanks to two people who were in the right place and had the right venues. I contacted the band of the Royal Marines and two well-known performers about their availability, perhaps to help launch the hall. Mr McNicol, enthused, took over, and engaged HM Band of the Royal Marines, but not the others, to perform at daytime events for the public, and not just for the evening`s official opening concert for the great and the good.
The displays of marching and music let him demonstrate how the seating and performing spaces and floor in the main hall could be quickly adapted during productions. He also ensured a substantial donation was sent off to help the RNLI, perhaps the fees he saved by not having other performers. He continued to express the city`s marine culture for many years including the display of giant framed paintings of ocean liners built on the Clyde, and a gallery display of some sculptures and models depicting oil exploration.
The second? Thanks greatly to Professor Douglas Faulkner, who agreed with the idea of a marine exhibition, the McIntyre Building at Glasgow University staged a Marine Engineering Exhibition over two months, with costs underpinned by one of the oil corporations. This displayed the current evolutions in marine propulsion, in which the Clyde led, and current researches into new forms. It was opened by the Royal Navy`s Admiral Engineer.
After 25 years I agree with the concert hall executive about the need to have the International Concerts series restarted. I also wonder if some of the new propulsion ideas have come into use. Perhaps they have, and are state secrets.
Graeme Smith,
12 Greenlaw Road, Newton Mearns.
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