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Camden New Journal - By DAN CARRIER
Published: 7 June 2007

Patron of the arts: Lloyd Dorfman

Change of face at Roundhouse

ONE of the UK’s richest businessmen has been appointed the new chairman of the Chalk Farm Roundhouse.
Lloyd Dorfman, who set up cash transfer company Travelex and was named in the Forbes magazine 2006 Rich List, will take over from Torquil Norman, the toy maker who poured his personal fortune into saving the building.
Mr Dorfman, who lives in Hampstead and is also on the board of the Jewish Community Centre currently being built in Arkwright Road, made his name as a patron of the arts after bankrolling a cheap ticket offer for the National Theatre, which released thousands of seats at £10 each.
He is due to take over on July 24.
And he revealed to the New Journal in his younger days he had been a regular visitor to rock gigs and parties at the famous venue.
He said: “Perhaps my fondest memories of the Roundhouse was going to an all-night concert there to hear The Doors and Jefferson Airplane.
“To hear Jim Morrison sing was amazing but, as it often is with these things, I did not quite realise the significance of the gig at the time.”
Mr Dorfman praised the outgoing chairman Torquil Norman, who spent 10 years and raised close to £30m to turn the derelict railway shed and one-time gin store into a state of the art, 3,000-capacity venue.
He said: “Torquil has done a great job – I am conscious of picking up his baton and the responsibility of taking the Roundhouse on to the next stage.”
Mr Dorfman said he was aware of the challenges his team would face.
He said: “It has a status as a venue and this is linked to the Roundhouse being a place were things are slightly edgy. This is what it was known for in the old days and this is what we want it to be known for in the future.”
But he added the work the Roundhouse Trust does for young people was equally important. He said: “My wife and I supported and helped this facility when it was first set up so I am aware of its importance to the project as a whole. The work the Roundhouse does with young people and the facilities it offers are incredible.”
The Roundhouse – which was used to unveil the new Olympics logo to a star-studded audience on Monday night – unveils a summer season which includes a circus and the BBC’s Electric Proms have confirmed they will return for a series of high-profile concerts in the autumn.

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