Weston Super Mare Music Appreciation Society

How did it all start?

The society was founded in October 1979, under the name 'Weston-Super-Mare Recorded Music Society', by Arthur Radford and a small group of enthusiasts. The object of the society was to provide facilities for its members to enjoy good music reproduced through high quality equipment in amenable surroundings with ambient conditions more approaching the concert hall, providing realism generally not possible at home. It was also the desire of the society to increase members' knowledge and appreciation of music by arranging lecture programmes by visiting speakers and its own members. In the early days outside speakers were thought to be too expensive, but this changed as membership increased. The inaugural meeting of Weston Recorded Music Society was on 24th October 1979 at St Paul's Church Hall. Mr Radford, who was well known in the field of sound reproduction, and who provided equipment for the meeting, was elected President. There were between 50 and 60 people present, and Dr K.C. Mallen was elected as chairman, and his brother Dr C.B. Mallen was on the committee.

The society is affiliated to the Federation of Recorded Music Societies, which was founded in 1936, and to which we pay capitation, licencing and insurance fees. Its newsletter was produced twice a year, and edited by our Chairman Simon Rawlings, who stood down from his role as editor in late 2023. Our society hosted the FRMS AGM in November 2019 at The Winter Gardens.

Membership reached 74 in 1984. Dr W.P. Kelly was chairman from 1985 until his death in 1997.

In autumn 2001 the society moved to. St Jude's Hall at St Peter's Church. In 2008/9 the name was changed to Weston-Super-Mare Music Appreciation Society. In September 2022 we moved to our present venue at Milton Methodist Church.

Due to reducing numbers, in spring 2018 it was decided to change the season and run from March until the end of September to avoid dark nights and inclement weather. When meetings started again after the Covid pandemic, members voted to hold meetings in the afternoons. As a result of increasing membership, we currently meet throughout the year with around sixteen meetings scheduled from April until March (see the Programme page). Our recent AGM was very well attended with a few guests becoming new members. However, we have room for more!

We are always pleased to welcome new members and visitors.

Come and join us!