Naming a seat for late husband in Theatre built by nephew

A wish to create a tribute to her late husband, combined with a direct family connection to the construction of the Waikato Regional Theatre, has led Maggie Swain to ‘Take a Seat’ in its auditorium, two of them in fact.

Dr David Swain, Maggie’s late husband, died last year. A respected long-time University of Waikato academic described as a lecturer who “made the drudgery of study fade away”, his life story was told in a touching Waikato Times obituary by Richard Swainson.

LEGACY: Maggie with her late husband David.

As Maggie explains, she wanted to honour both David and an inheritance he had received.

“David’s estate included a small legacy from his late aunt Dr Ruth Swain-Roberts who, for most of her life, was a medical missionary in Kalene in Zambia.

“I wanted to honour the memory of both of them, and when I saw Momentum’s ‘Take a Seat’ offer I thought making a donation to put their names on two seats in the new Theatre was the perfect way to do it.”

Maggie has been following the Theatre’s build with close interest because her nephew David Middlemiss is its Site Manager.

“I am very excited by the Waikato Regional Theatre - as are many Hamiltonians. I was born in Hamilton and have spent a good part of my life here.”

“My father, and David’s grandfather, was Charlie Middlemiss, who moved to Matangi with his family when he was five. In 1931 Charlie married Gretta Giboney and they had a farm at Awakeri near Whakatane, but during the depression they had to walk off. He landed up in the work scheme that removed the Garden Place hill, work for which he was grateful and proud.”

VIEWING: Maggie with her nephew David Middlemiss, the Theatre's Site Manager.

To thank Maggie for her support, last week her nephew David hosted her for a brief look at its auditorium and foyer.

“It came as no surprise that Maggie would want to help with the success of the Theatre,” says David.

“She is certainly a supporter of Hamilton.”

Maggie expects the Theatre will make Hamilton a “focus for major productions”.

“I’m looking forward to going to see the popular shows that come around. The ballet and the Symphony Orchestra haven’t been able to play here for a while, and I am really hopeful that a lot of the best theatre companies will be attracted.

“Having the Theatre in the centre of town is great, tied in with Museum and facing towards the river and parkland.

“I’m basically an enthusiastic supporter,” says Maggie.

If you would also like to ‘Take a Seat’ by donating towards the Waikato Regional Theatre, you can find out more at sharethestage.co.nz/takeaseat.