FRANK Blackwell, president of Malvern Theatre Association, has resigned his seat on Malvern Theatres Trust.

Mr Blackwell, who has been with the trust since its formation, and with its predecessor before that, said he felt it was now time to retire.

He will remain as the president of the association, of which his wife Mari is the chairman.

Theatres manager Nic Lloyd said: "It will be strange not to have Frank Blackwell as part of the team that runs Malvern Theatres.

"I have enormous respect for this man and will miss him. Whether agreeing or disagreeing with policy, Frank had that rare skill of understanding the need to balance history with a vision of the future."

Mr Blackwell will be replaced on the trust by Bob Wilson, of the Midlands Musical Theatre Group.

Malvern Theatres has a new theatre development officer, Hilary Philpott.

Hilary has enjoyed a varied career, starting off as a theatrical costumier in London and Seville.

Later she began working with charities, first as a celebrity co-ordinator, then as corporate fundraising manager, before going on to run the Brick Lane Music Hall in the East End of London.

She said: "To be in a position to unite the two main areas of my experience, corporate fundraising and theatre, together with working with an enthusiastic and dedicated team which provides this area with the best drama and touring productions that are on offer in the UK, is a truly enviable position."

The previous theatre development officer, Dorothy Warner, has moved to a theatrical production company in Worcester.