INTERVIEW By the Dart INTERVIEW
DAVID CHAPMAN
THERE’S A NEW HAND ON THE TILLER AT THE FLAVEL AS DAVID CHAPMAN TAKES OVER FROM KEITH POCKETT
unflappable air. On chatting I start to understand why: he is an ex-teacher, in both state and independent sectors, with a drama and english background and was a headmaster for more than two decades. “I’m a medievalist really,” he laughed, “but I became a teacher and discovered a love for teaching not only English but rugby too and especially drama. It’s a theme that has run throughout my life and it was one of the reasons I got involved here at the Flavel. I’ve been a director of drama at two schools and have produced everything from Shakespeare to Coward to Gilbert & Sullivan, so I love and know the full range of possibilities offered by the performance arts.” David became well known for
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his work as a headmaster, and became chairman of the Society of Headmasters and Headmistresses in 2006. He now works as an education consultant. David’s family has a long association with Dartmouth – and he has visited it as a holiday destination his whole life. “My great grandfather, Charles Chapman, came here to instruct on HMS Hindustan, one of the ships that was the precursor to today’s Britannia Royal Naval College,” he said. “He stayed on as a harbourmaster and the rather interesting role of ‘Port Sanitary Inspector’!
avid Chapman exudes calm as we shake hands – he has an
His son, Monty, as well as being
a naval officer, was mayor twice. “These connections mean that for my father and I Dartmouth has always felt like home. It’s where we would visit family at Christmas and in the holidays, and when my wife Jane - who was brought up in Dartmouth - and I were looking for somewhere to relax and start to enjoy life more, once I had stopped being a headmaster, South Devon was the natural choice.”
“It was somewhere we enjoyed coming to watch plays, films and participate in community events, so I
really wanted to be involved in some way,.”
In 2009, not long after moving to the area, David saw an advert for a trustee in the window and thought that he would like to get involved. “It was somewhere we enjoyed coming to watch plays, films and participate in community events, so I really wanted to be involved in some way,” he said. “I sent in my CV and they must have seen something they liked!” Soon after joining the ranks of
trustees for the Flavel, David became chairman of the Management committee, a role he has fulfilled for three years. He has now stepped up to
become chairman of the Flavel Trust, taking over the reins from Keith Pockett. David was full of praise for his predecessors in the role. “Both Keith, and the first chairman
Ray Bridges, did absolutely marvellous jobs in very difficult circumstances,” he said. “The fact that the Flavel is here today and thriving is down to their dedication, skill and hard work. The Flavel is a marvellous organisation, which serves as a hub for the community, both artistically and socially. “Being asked to be chairman is a huge honour and I didn’t have to think twice about accepting. I am so full of admiration for Ray and also Keith for working so hard during his time as chairman to increase audiences and create the vibrant and successful Flavel we see today. “The range of performances and
shows that we put on here is simply breathtaking – ranging from vibrant community shows such as those in the Dart Drama Festival and in the Dartmouth Players’ Panto’s, to the wonderful live streaming of events by The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Globe, Glyndbourne and the National Opera. We have built our audiences for a range of events, from comedy to our very successful cinema and have concentrated on bringing in those who might not normally go to performances thanks to our support for disabled and hearing and sight impaired audience members.” David has a vision for the Flavel
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