The official opening of the Thompson Recreation Centre is to go ahead as planned despite the recent death of its benefactor Mr. William Thompson. Mr. Thompson's sister, Miss Sarah Whitham Thompson and the Mayor of Burnley, Coun. Edward Hanson, will open the centre at 3pm on Wednesday 28th August.
A lot has been said and written in praise of activities inside the centre, but a much admired feature is on the outside of the building. This is the 150ft. long 9ft. high mural of an athlete in action, on the way facing the bus station. The mural, showing the power, vitality, grace and skill of an athlete, is the work of Scottish artist Charles Anderson. The mural is the largest piece of work Mr. Anderson has undertaken at his workshop in Paisley, Renfrewshire. Mr. Anderson, aged 37, uses plastic materials to help shape his murals. Polystyrene, polyester and epoxy resin, and also some metal work are used for the moulds. When the moulds are finished they leave the workshop and go to the pre-casting contractor who pours in the cement to cast them. The moulds are then taken to the site, erected, and the strips of mould peeled off. Mr. Anderson's other works include murals at the Glasgow Stock Exchange and Strathclyde University, and he now believes that local authorities have a much greater awareness of how much murals, used in building projects, can add to the environment.