THIS week 50 years ago, Worcester's historic Public Hall was officially re-opened following expensive internal restoration work financed by the City Council.

The Journal reported in 1951: "At the civic re-opening of the Public Hall, the City Chamberlain, Councillor W.M. Bird said the restoration of the building marked the beginning of 'a new era in the social life of the city'.

"He believed it to be the most momentous day in the history of the hall, which would now fill Worcester's long-felt need for a general purpose venue.

"In officially handing over the building to the Mayor, Alderman H.M Morris, Coun Bird said: 'I ask you to receive the restored Public Hall on behalf of the citizens of Worcester, and I hope it may be a source of pride and pleasure to them, both old and young, for many years to come'.

"After the formal ceremony, the audience was entertained to a concert by Dennis Wheeler and his Orchestra, and John Bee played the organ, though pointing out that it needed urgent restoration. Among the events for the first week of re-opening will be a demonstration by the leading British table-tennis player Johnny Leach."

Alas, as we know with hindsight, the Public Hall was to survive but another 15 years before being pulled down in the mid-1960s in a piece of civic vandalism.

Several historic events had taken place at the Public Hall down the years. Charles Dickens had read extracts from his novels there. "March King" Souza and "Swedish Nightingale" Jenny Lind had appeared in concerts on its platform, and Czech composer Antonin Dvorak had conducted a Three Choirs Festival in the Public Hall. The final extended version of Elgar's Enigma Variations had also received its first performance there.