The Lost ARC was dreamt up and started by the Carter family, but our team is ever expanding! Meet the people behind the project…

Paul Carter

A retired teacher and eternal optimist. That sums it up really! This whole enterprise has centred on Paul taking an interest in this building from the time that Glenda’s parents moved to Rhayader in 1986 and hearing various stories relating to the hall chiefly as a performance venue. The period after the supermarket moved out was particularly hard to take as the building fell into disrepair. Everyone seemed to have fond memories of the hall and it seems the whole of Wales got in to see ‘The Swinging Blue Jeans’. So Paul set about trying to prove that the building could have a future!

Glenda Carter

Born and raised in Mid-Wales – just a little further down the Wye valley – Glenda has a lifelong love of music: particularly singing, but she also plays an assortment of musical instruments. A few years ago Glenda bought a clarsach harp and is loving learning to play this wonderful instrument. Her working life has been spent in education, and despite all its bad press, thoroughly enjoyed a career in Secondary teaching and still enjoys working with young people – this is fuelling many of the ideas we have for the café and hall. Glenda has always enjoyed cooking and is already planning recipes and is shamelessly stealing ideas from all the places that the family visit.

Len Carter

Len is leading the renovation project at the Lost ARC, having worked in construction alongside music since the age of 18.  He also takes to the stage every now and then, being a saxophonist who  has played jazz, funk, blues, ska and reggae in various bands across the UK. Len hopes to encourage local Rhayader musicians to develop and share their music with the wider community. Trained in guitar making, he also can’t wait for the workshops to be finished and equipped!

Steph Carter

Lifelong singer and musician with a love of musical theatre and music from the films, Steph has settled into a life of music performance, directing and teaching. She has great pleasure in working alongside the exceptionally talented team at The Arts Centre Telford, and is excited to be leading what will hopefully become a similar offering in the heart of Wales.

Bobbi Brown

Bobbi is a star in her own right and has already started centred her children’s clothing business in Rhayader. Bobbi Handmade Children’s Clothes is an established stall in Covent Garden as well as an ever growing online store. Bobbi brings an artistic flair to everything she does and she is keen to share this with like-minded people in Rhayader.

Ian Brown

Ian is a true Salopian, someone who has lived in Shropshire all his life; forging a reputation as an uncompromising centre back with Telford United whilst also performing in male voice choirs, choral societies and taking lead roles in musical theatre and semi operatic roles. A bass baritone who simply loves singing, Ian still takes on solo roles with Shrewsbury Choral Society and Choral Harmony – a small mixed voice choir. Ian has agreed to look after the financial affairs of The Lost ARC (at the moment we are testing his ability to subtract!).

Couple this fantastic wealth of experience with Graham and Jess Carter who are classical cellists and the musical skills already being shown by the one year olds, Mathilda and Elias, there is reason to be optimistic for the future.