Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell is hosting a fundraising event for a heritage charity venue with a talk based on his new book ‘Beyond A Fringe: Tales from a reformed Establishment lackey’.
Mr Mitchell (pictured), who with a team of local arts and heritage volunteers was instrumental in saving Sutton Coldfield Town Hall from being closed and redeveloped, helped guide its transfer from Birmingham City Council to a new charity and is the honorary president of the trust.
The Trust, formed in 2016, has re-established the theatre and event space as a vibrant centre of social and cultural activity in the Royal Town.
The Town Hall, which is maintained and managed by a small team of venue professionals, now regularly hosts public shows, as well as celebrations such as weddings and family parties for many of the town’s inhabitants.
It has been the main town site for NHS vaccinations for over a year and will return to hosting blood donation sessions from April. It has acted as a donation centre for local food banks since March 2020, resulting in donations worth around £80,000.
The talk on Thursday 24 March is based on the MP’s story of his life in and out of politics.
Proceeds from the talk tickets, priced at £10, will be donated to the Town Hall’s major refurbishment fundraising project.
From his prep school years, through the Army to Cambridge, the City of London and the Palace of Westminster, Andrew Mitchell passed through a series of British institutions at a time of furious social and political change – in the process becoming more cynical about the British Establishment.
In the talk he will reflect on the perils and pleasures of loyalty, whether to a party, to individuals or to his own principles.
After an interval, there will be a Q&A session to close the evening. Discounted books are also available and can be signed at the event.
To book, call the Box Office 0121 296 9543 – Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm - or visit the website.
