Interview - Brenda Batty

The following article was published in the January 2011 edition of Your Local Link Magazine

Brenda Batty
Brenda Batty
© 2010 Richard Foster, Your Local Link Magazine

When Brenda Batty joined the Rowntree chocolate factory as a 16-year-old trainee secretary more than 40 years ago, little did she realise she would play a key role in helping fledgling businesses get off the ground.

In 1987 she took advantage of a secondment to help set up York Enterprise Ltd and stayed there 18 years.

She recalls: “After a few years training I became business manager. I found it fascinating and I really enjoyed my time at the enterprise centre. I am very proud of the fact that some of the businesses we helped to set up years and years ago are still going strong.”

Away from the office, Brenda devoted a great deal of her time to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre in Haxby Road, York.

She has appeared in numerous shows as a member of the Rowntree Youth Theatre and the Rowntree Players as well as helping back stage, sorting out the props and costumes.

Brenda, a mother-of-two from Heworth, also put her office skills to good use as secretary of the Rowntree Players; fulfilling that role for about 40 years.

It was her devotion to the Rowntree Theatre that prompted her to become one of the leading members of the campaign to save the community venue ten years ago.

After David Bushby, the theatre’s manager retired, Nestle decided not to replace him and there were fears the Art Deco venue, built in 1935, would be bulldozed to make way for a car park.

Brenda recalls: “We simply could not allow that to happen. A group of us got together and asked Nestle to give us a chance and let us run the theatre as a team, on a voluntary basis. Fortunately, Nestle backed us and, ten years later, we’re still here.”

The Rowntree Theatre is going from strength to strength – thanks to the efforts of nearly 100 stewards and more than 30 backstage staff – all of them volunteers.

“The only person who gets paid is the cleaner and she deserves every penny,” quips Brenda who is on the board of directors, responsible for front of house and sales.

She adds: “So many people love this theatre; I am amazed by their commitment to keep it going. All the money we make is ploughed back into the theatre to improve its facilities; we don’t even declare expenses.”

A black-tie ball was held at St Peter’s School, York, to celebrate the theatre’s 75th anniversary. Brenda, now a grandmother, recalls: “It was a wonderful occasion. I met up with a lot of people I hadn’t seen for years. They had travelled far and wide to get there and we regaled each other with happy stories about the theatre. It’s marvellous how the Rowntree Theatre has brought so many people together and created so many friendships.”

PDF logo Original January 2011 article from Your Local Link Magazine (in PDF format)