Dame Vera Lynn saddened by final curtain call for Martlets

Not only is she a British icon and national treasure, but Dame Vera Lynn is also a long-standing Ditchling resident and voice within the community. Therefore, the news that the Burgess Hill Martlets Hall has been closed down and is to be demolished is a saddening one for the Forces Sweetheart and her family.

Having been built in 1972, The Martlets has contributed significantly to the live arts scene and community spirit in Burgess Hill for almost fifty years. Its closure comes as part of the £65 million project to redevelop the town centre. However, with no official plans for its replacement, Dame Vera and her family have said that they believe the Council’s decision could deprive the town of its cultural core.

“The Martlets Hall is a significant part of the town’s cultural centre and has touched the lives of numerous Burgess Hill residents,” says Virginia Lewis-Jones, Dame Vera’s daughter. “It is in small theatres such as Martlets that many of today’s stars have learnt their trade and began their careers. My mother is incredibly upset at the news of its closure and believes that it will be a great loss to the community.”

The hall has provided space for fundraising events, exhibitions, musicals and performances of all kinds. It has raised thousands of pounds for countless charities over the course of its 46 years. Hosting organisations such as the Burgess Hill Theatre Club, where they stage their hugely popular pantomime every year, and showcasing local musical talent such as Drusilla Duffill Theatre School, it is safe to say that the hall will be greatly missed by many.

Dame Vera very much hopes a new versatile performing arts space will be built for the benefit of all the residents in the local area.

— end — 4 July 2018