Historic old hall up for a magic return

Mar 31 2008 by Jean Parry, South Wales Echo

ONE of Caerphilly’s oldest buildings could be brought to life again with a little magic and miracles.

The old red brick Workmen’s Hall was one of the few buildings to survive the cull of Castle Street to make way for modern shops and offices, and members of the town’s Tommy Cooper Society want to see it revived to again become a vibrant venue for live events.

Tudor Jones, society secretary, said: “It is a wonderful old building and we hope to work with the trustees to look at its long term use. We need to stand back and take a long look at the future.”

Few younger people in Caerphilly will have seen inside the Workmen’s Hall’s auditorium where once films like the St Trinian’s capers packed it to capacity and had the walls vibrating with laughter.

But with the advent of television and other home entertainment attractions, it fell into disrepair, although its glory days can still be glimpsed through its red plush seating and acres of superb decorative plasterwork and tiled flooring.

On Friday, members of famous Magic Circle kick started what the society hope will be the first of many fund-raising live shows.

David Ball, Magic Circle secretary, was a friend of Tommy Cooper and his one-time bank manager when they both lived in Chiswick, west London.

Mr Ball said: “I was about 10 when I set my mind on being a magician but my parents had other ideas and I went into banking. Once I started climbing that ladder, magic was put on the back burner but I became a member of the Magic Circle when I was 18.”

Later on his career, Tommy became a customer of the bank where Mr Ball was manager and the two discovered they were Magic Circle members.

Mr Ball said: “He was a really wonderful guy who believed he was put on this earth to make people laugh. I think he would be speechless if he knew we were back in the place he was born putting on a show.”

One of Mr Ball’s most precious possessions is the comic legs table Tommy was using on stage when he tragically died in a television show being beamed to millions in 1984 and which he used on stage in Caerphilly on Friday.

“When Tommy died, his wife Gwen gave me the table and I’m still proudly using it. I hope what we are doing here can help revive the Workmen’s Hall. It has tremendous potential.”

jean.parry@mediawales.co.uk