The Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences founded by royal charter encapsulates the very finest of Victorian ideals: altruism, education, enlightenment and civic responsibility.
The Royal Albert Hall as it is known occupies a unique place in the heart of the nation. It does wonderful work and is served by a dedicated and talented staff. It is sad therefore that the greatest of 19th century ideals have been tarnished by 21st century selfishness.
In the past week spokesmen for the hall, commendably loyal to those who govern it, have attempted to justify the unjustifiable: “the hall has no control over what members do with their seats”, “seat holders rights are enshrined in property law”, “what seat holders do with their property costs the charity nothing etc”.
Perhaps most egregious is the assertion that the hall receives no public funding. Really? What about the millions contributed by the National Lottery, to say nothing of tax relief and and its peppercorn rental.
No one will deny that today the hall must operate commercially, but those members who are now trustees should be more concerned about preserving the hall’s fabric and sustaining its future than protecting members “rights”.
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Unlike original subscribers, not one penny of what subsequent members paid for their seats benefits the charity.
The vast majority of responsible members, many of whom have reached deep into their pockets to support the hall, have unwittingly abdicated responsibility for the hall’s governance to commercial interests.
It is regrettable that the hall must now turn to the regulator, the Charity Commission to ensure that it is governed lawfully and transparently.
If the council were to introduce democracy into the constitution, to amend and prosecute existing bylaws prohibiting the sale of members’ tickets on the secondary market and put an end to profiteering by commercial investors, then outside intervention wouldn’t be necessary.
This week’s press would have Prince Albert turning in his grave.
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Richard Lyttelton was president of the hall’s council from 2010 to 2011