Arthur Clermont
Rest In Peace
Joined 1952
Arthur Clermont joined Central Players in January, 1952, along with his wife, Nancy, and they were both cast in the next production “Young Wives’ Tales".
From then on, Arthur played a vital part in the Company’s future, not only acting, directing and stage managing (the latter he enjoyed very much), but also in persuading the Company that they could have their own theatre, here, under the arches. This latter idea was not well received, and involved some bitter discussion before it was finally decided to “give it a go” – and it’s been going ever since!
In the following years, apart from his theatrical involvement, Arthur occupied the oppositions of Vice–Chairman, Chairman and Secretary – even for a short time serving as Treasurer. During this time, Arthur sought and obtained charitable status for the Company. He also, with the help of a solicitor friend, turned The Central Players into a limited company – Horley Central players Ltd. This enabled him to negotiate a lease with the then British Rail, who refused to deal with what they termed “a loose body of people”!!
By now the local council had given up the tenure of the arches, where they had held a Community Centre – so Central Players had the use of the whole complex, whereas before they had the use of one arch (now our dressing room), hiring out the games room (now our Auditorium) when we put on a play.
After several successful years, the company realised they needed to expand (the current auditorium held only 65 seats), so Arthur negotiated a 35 year lease with additional land. He also set in motion a great fund-raising effort. He enlisted the services of an old friend, Eric Jordan, who was a retired theatrical architect, to help with the re-design.
Arthur also realised that the friendly (?!) enmity between Central Players and Barts Players (the latter were, by then, hiring the Archway Theatre to put on their shows) would have a detrimental effect on this huge undertaking. He therefore suggested that both companies should merge under one banner – Archway Theatre Ltd.
Again – consternation and recriminations! – and again Arthur was sufficiently persuasive to “do it his way”!
Arthur continued to play an active part in the company , diecting and acting, until a severe stroke rbbed him of his speech and movement I his right side, and he died on February 22nd 1997.
We all owe Arthur a great deal – our theatre would not be as we now know it without his passion and gift of persuasion.