It was a special day for Quinte West’s Wannamaker family.
The City of Quinte West renamed the amphitheatre in Centennial Park the Bob Wannamaker Amphitheatre on June 5, 2022. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
On Sunday, the City of Quinte West honoured the late Bob Wannamaker with the renaming of the amphitheatre in Centennial Park in Trenton, to the Bob Wannamaker Amphitheatre.
The Wannamaker Family music group, excluding Rob Wannamaker, performed Andrew Sister’s Melody on June 5, 2022. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
The Wannamaker family and the Trenton Citizens Band hosted a community concert following the unveiling, with Bob’s five daughters, part of The Wannamaker Family musical group, performing the song Andrew Sisters Medley.
Wannamaker was the driver behind popular summertime concerts at the amphitheatre in Centennial Park and his wife Hope Wannamaker says this honouring would have meant a lot to him.
“It would mean everything to him, he would be so happy and it’s so well deserved, truly, I was there in the spring when he’d be making all the phone calls, and he never asked for a penny ever in his life for himself, never, and he was so happy to do it.”
Andy Sparling speaks on his time working with Bob Wannamaker on June 5, 2022. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
Andy Sparling, who worked with Bob on the Trenton Big Band Festival for several years prior to the pandemic, says the new name of the amphitheatre is fitting.
“I mean the thing he loved doing most was organizing live music in the parks, live concerts for most of that time. So he raised the money, made it happen, got the cheques, paid everybody, and just ensured this community had music in the parks, regular concerts for all those years, and a lot of those concerts were held here. So really, that’s why I would like to call it a no brainer.”
A crowd listens to the Trenton Citizens Band perform at the newly named Bob Wannamaker Amphitheatre in Centennial Park. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
Wannamaker, who passed away on December 25, 2020 at the age of 80, served on Town of Trenton, City of Trenton, and City of Quinte West councils from 1973 through to 2018, and was one of the original seven members of the Trenton Citizens Band.
