Queen's Park bandstand given new lease of life thanks to generosity of artistic team

Date published: 06 July 2021

Queen's Park bandstand and outdoor theatre has been given a new lease of life thanks to the generosity of Heywood locals and artists.

Featuring a giant rainbow, a floral display with hundreds of hand drawn flowers and bees, and a graffiti wall by local children inspired by Prague’s John Lennon wall, the mural is a prime example of a community coming together to create something positive.

Originally an idea from the Friends of Queens Park, Farrell Construction Ltd gave their time for free after the Friends put out an appeal for help to transform the once dismal building and generous locals donated over £1,300 towards materials for the project.

Ellen Yates, Chair of the Friends of Queens Park who meet monthly at Queens Park Lodge, said: “Queens Park is very popular and extremely well used and loved by everyone.

“Before lockdown, we had a long list of events which were due to happen at the outdoor theatre, and so we decided at one of our meetings it would be good to paint the theatre ready for things opening up again.

“After the council gave us permission, we asked the community to volunteer help.”

Addy Farrell and Terry Linden from Farrell Construction got the transformation underway on Monday 21 June, painting the blue and grey base coat, before artists Toni Brown and Victoria Ash put their painting skills to the test.

The two women were chosen from a ‘huge amount’ of offers and worked hard to complete the colourful mural, with help along the way from children from Rochdale Youth Team who created the graffiti wall across the front.

Ellen continued: “The cost of all this has been met by the local community coming together to donate to the project.

“We are all over the moon with how lovely it looks now. It has completely transformed the building.

“A special thanks goes to two of our members, Gwenda and Andy Eckersley, who have overseen all the preparation and work and co-ordinated every step of the way.”

Toni Lane, one of the artists who worked on the mural and owner of Vero Amore Interiors, said: “I was immediately excited by the opportunity to help transform the bandstand, and made contact straight away offering to do the work free of charge.

“I knew when I first saw it what I wanted to do with it; I used to take my own children to the park, so I was already familiar with the structure and its position in the park.

“The shape was crying out for a rainbow! I wanted to create a scene, like I do with my paintings. We knew by doing this it would appeal to lots of people for lots of different reasons and we knew that the children would love it. We imagined people standing under the rainbow for photographs and it being a frame for those performing in it.

“Creating the rainbow was quite hard, being up scaffolding and hand drawing a rainbow was no easy task, but we smashed it. Hundreds of people came to see it underway, and we spoke so many lovely people and received such lovely comments.

“We are so proud of it, and it was a brilliant week overall.”

Victoria Ash, of Victoria Ash Art, said: “It was an absolute pleasure working on the outdoor theatre. From painting the rainbow to creating the flower meadow, everything was painted purely by hand from imagination drawing on my experience and love of flowers.

“Working with Toni was an honour as I have been an admirer of her work for a while. But by far the best bit was the reaction from the public as they saw the design emerge. It's a well-loved park and I am proud of what we have achieved. Hopefully it will be enjoyed for years to come!”

Councillor Liam O’Rourke, cabinet member for environment and facilities, said: “We’re all delighted with the new look bandstand, organised by the Friends of Queen’s Park group; local businesses and children who wanted to give this iconic structure a new lease of life.

“The rainbow and exquisite hand-painted flowers fit perfectly within the surrounding environment, with children adding their artistic interpretation on the outer wall, providing a platform for positive thoughts.

“What a transformation and a wonderful example of a community working together to create something beautiful. Well done - thank you to all involved.”

A grand opening of the newly refurbished bandstand / outdoor theatre is being planned for Sunday 25 July when it is hoped that the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Aasim Rashid, will officially open the outdoor space.