Pioneer Venture celebrates 100 Years of Lifelong Learning in Rugby

Rugby’s home of lifelong learning, the Percival Guildhouse, is celebrating 100 years of inspiring adults to learn for pleasure.

The Guildhouse in St Matthew’s Street, next to the Art Gallery & Museum, has survived the Great Depression, the Second World War, the Covid-19 pandemic and financial crises, to reach its centenary. It is unique in Warwickshire and one of the few centres of its kind in the country offering an eclectic mix of courses to stimulate curious minds and keep bodies active.

Centenary celebrations include a major show of students’ art at the Art Gallery & Museum in June; a writing competition for secondary schools; a series of fun events for students including countrythemed cultural evenings and a centenary thank-you summer tea party. The actual anniversary – 29th September – will be marked by a special event at Rugby School.

Centenary Committee Chairman, David Dove, said: “We want to put a smile on people’s faces and share this happy moment with our loyal students and supporters and the whole of Rugby. This is a momentous milestone and our thanks go to generations of volunteers who have made it possible.”

How it started

The charity-run venture, described as the “Thinking Shop of Rugby” in 1925, has developed over time to reflect the interests of its students who today enjoy courses ranging from many forms of art, crafts, yoga and other wellbeing pursuits, to languages, history, creative writing and more.

More than once the Guildhouse has faced closure, notably in the late 1970s with the withdrawal of all municipal funding. A crisis meeting of students decided to go-it-alone, after which the Guildhouse prospered until Covid-19 struck in 2020. Prolonged closure and then student fears about mixing in public spaces resulted in the halving of enrolments forcing trustees to fund ongoing deficits from reserves. Late last year with reserves depleted closure loomed again. Thanks to securing long-term loans at the beginning of this year, the Guildhouse doors have stayed open. The challenge is now on to significantly restore enrolment numbers and introduce the joy of the Guildhouse to a new generation of students.