Dance Again to Diggins exhibition officially open at Boston Guildhall
The much-anticipated Dance Again to Diggins Exhibition was officially opened on Saturday 12 October at Boston Guildhall. The invite only event featured speeches from Cllr Sarah Sharpe, Portfolio Holder for Culture at Boston Borough Council, along with Ron Diggins' friends, Brian Golland and Keith Feary.
Cllr Sharpe welcomed everyone to the exhibition and expressed her gratitude to the organisers for bringing this remarkable event to life. Cllr Sarah Sharpe, Portfolio Holder for Culture at Boston Borough Council, said: "I am thrilled to see the Dance Again to Diggins Exhibition come to life at Boston Guildhall. This exhibition not only celebrates the incredible innovation of Ron Diggins but also brings our community together to honour our rich cultural heritage. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the organisers and everyone involved in making this event a success. Let's dance to the legacy of Ron Diggins and keep his pioneering spirit alive!" said Cllr Sharpe.
Brian Golland and Keith Feary shared heartfelt memories of Ron Diggins and his invention, the Diggola, the world's first mobile disco. Their speeches highlighted the significance of this innovation and its impact on the music and entertainment industry.
In the late 1940s, a quiet revolution began in Swineshead, Lincolnshire, led by Bostonian Ron Diggins. As a professional radio engineer, Diggins initially provided public address systems for events. However, in September 1947, he transformed his equipment into the first mobile disco at the request of local farm girls, marking the birth of the Diggola. This mobile disco unit, featuring twin 78 rpm turntables, a homemade mixer, lights, and speakers, revolutionized leisure time and created a worldwide phenomenon.
The exhibition celebrates the 75th anniversary of the invention of the Diggola by Bostonian Ron Diggins and will be open at Boston Guildhall until 11 January 2025. In addition to the exhibition, dance sessions celebrating Ron Diggins' legacy will be held at Boston Guildhall on Thursday 7 and Friday 22 November, and Thursday, December 19 (Christmas special), from 4pm to 6pm.
The exhibition has been made possible with funding from the SELCP NPO project for Boston, East Lindsey, and South Holland, funded by Arts Council England. It is hoped to tour the exhibition in 2025-2027 across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, collecting further memories from people who 'danced to Diggins'. The exhibition will conclude with a final performance back at the Guildhall Museum in Boston.
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