Chris Smith, the previous Secretary of State for Culture, has been appointed to the Board of the National Theatre.

Smith's tenure as Secretary of State was a good one for the London arts scene as he had a genuine and long-term interest in and committment to the arts. His appointment as Secretary was therefore a matching of man and ministry, unlike some previous appointments where the impression was that politicians were given the arts portfolio as a consolation prize for not getting something more central to Westminster politics.

Sir Christopher Hogg, Chairman of the Board, said: "I warmly welcome Chris Smith as a member of our Board. His wisdom and standing and his experience as a Member of Parliament and a former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will be of the greatest value to us in our deliberations."

Chris Smith was last spotted at the National by Theatrenow at the launch of Oberon Books' publication of 25 years of rehearsal photographs at the National, marking the anniversary of the company's arrival at the South Bank in 1976.

—by Paul Webb Theatrenow