COMMENT

Sellers tarnish the hall’s Victorian ideals

Prince Albert would turn in his grave at the ticket resale row dogging the hall named after him, Robert Lyttelton says
Prince Albert would turn in his grave at the ticket resale row dogging the hall named after him, Robert Lyttelton says
KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAGES

The Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences founded by royal charter encapsulates the very finest of Victorian ideals: altruism, education, enlightenment and civic responsibility.

The Royal Albert Hall as it is known occupies a unique place in the heart of the nation. It does wonderful work and is served by a dedicated and talented staff. It is sad therefore that the greatest of 19th century ideals have been tarnished by 21st century selfishness.

In the past week spokesmen for the hall, commendably loyal to those who govern it, have attempted to justify the unjustifiable: “the hall has no control over what members do with their seats”, “seat holders rights are enshrined in property law”, “what seat holders do with their property costs the