Frome’s Memorial Theatre has paid tribute to long-standing service given by Victoria Turner, who joined the team at the theatre in 1988 as a box office volunteer.
25 years later she is still a much-loved and highly valued member, and always a very friendly and familiar face at the box office counter.
Coincidentally, she started out selling panto tickets at the theatre, as she is today, selling tickets for the forthcoming production of ‘Cinderella’.
Victoria remembers clearly how different things were back in 1988, when the theatre was in the process of being rescued from the bulldozer, and working conditions were far from comfortable or luxurious, very often being surrounded by scaffolding!
Victoria was always advised by the box office manager, then the late Ken Ring, to take a good book or a radio with her to pass the time; these days she readily admits that she is so busy, that sometimes, it is hard to find the time to make a cup of tea!
In those days, the box office was only open for a few weeks, twice a year for pantomime and the spring production presented by the Frome Amateur Operatic Society. Nowadays the box office is open all year, six days a week.
Victoria has seen many changes during the last 25 years, not least the gradual renovation of the theatre, the computerisation of the box office, and the introduction of online bookings.
Her box office partner is Barbara Robbins who is also a valued, long-term team member, having started at the theatre in 1999, and they have worked together as a team ever since.
Victoria has met many artistes at the theatre including Danny La Rue and Uri Geller, and Ken Dodd even gave her a mention during one of his shows at the theatre saying, “Fancy naming someone after a railway station!”
Victoria is very proud of her record at the theatre and still finds it very enjoyable, particularly working alongside box office partner Barbara.
Pictured: Victoria receiving flowers from Humphrey Barnes, chairman of the theatre trustees on her 25th anniversary.
