We are saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Alexander Patrick, CBE.  

Mr Patrick is a long-time friend of Birmingham Hippodrome, and a trustee of the charity between 1990-1993.

Through his charitable foundation, The Patrick Trust, he has helped transform the landscape of arts and culture in the West Midlands, investing in many key charities, from Birmingham Royal Ballet to Black Country Living Museum. The Patrick family were at the forefront of the car manufacturing industry and aviation development in Birmingham, with a long standing partnership with Austin Motors, and the development of low cost fuel for family car owners. Mr Patrick was the third generation to take on the family company, joining in 1962, and becoming the Chair of the family’s Charitable Trust.

The Patrick family have invested in key developments at Birmingham Hippodrome – including a major gift that enabled us to build our studio theatre, which was opened during our redevelopment between 1999-2001. Envisaged as a studio space for dance, communities and young people, this addition to our cultural campus has gone from strength to strength, now presenting a wide ranging programme of performance, as well as being a space for artistic creation and education.

The Patrick Trust were also early investors in our education programme, in particular supporting our work with vulnerable young people, including Young Carers. Their support has enabled some of the most vulnerable young people in our local communities access the magic of the arts, in a safe welcoming space, with their peers. The Trust was able to support us again in 2010/11 with a gift to help redevelop our Stage during our Stage Appeal, and most recently have invested in our growing Relaxed Performance programme for those with access needs.  

We are so grateful for the foresight, passion and belief of a true West Midlands philanthropist who believed in the value of arts and culture. 

Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time.