Although my membership commenced in 1954, my connection with Urmston AOS started in 1946 when the Society returned to the Curzon with their first production after the war years. My connection was, for many years to come, as a member of the audience. 1946 saw the show Country Girl followed by Vagabond King in ’47. I went along with my parents, usually on the Friday night that has traditionally been Member’s night. We always stayed for the speeches and every now and again members of the backstage staff would come on stage to receive medals for their services to amateur theatre. I think that this was the start of my backstage interest in the productions.

Come 1954 with Bless The Bride I decided to become a member and help in any way backstage. With seeing the shows at the Curzon, I thought that when a member, that’s where I would be working but – No! The word was being bandied about at that time was “Cinemascope” and the Curzon, like many other cinemas, was to be converted to the new system. So my venue became the Longford Cinema on Chester Road, Stretford, later to become the Essoldo. We produced Bless The Bride and Zip Goes A Million. Then, after two years and a lot of modifications by our service team, we returned to our “home”, the Curzon Cinema where we stayed for a further number of years until….. but that’s another story.

I was able to join the “Props” team which consisted of two great chaps who, over the next few years were to become very good friends. The Props Master was Fred Willoughby and his assistant was Reg Claire. Fred attended to stage right – Princess Road. My job was to help both of them during the show.

Some years later, Fred, whose wife, Connie, had assisted Annie Makin and Jean Leach with wardrobe, decided to retire to Truro, Reg decided to retire also. The next show was The King And I. Prop Master was Bert Johnson who, for many years had “trod the boards” in lead parts. I assisted Bert with props. Two of the cast of The King And I still remain good friends today. Playing the part of Anna Leowens was Brenda Higham who I have recently had the pleasure in working with at Canterbury Players Production of “Haywire”. Brenda played the part of Phoebe, the Grandmother, so it was just like old times. The other friend playerd the part of Anna’s son and he was none other than our President, Matthew Kelly.

The following year I took over as Props Master, a position I held for many years, which involved committee work plus Stage Manager, when we could not get anyone to take the job on. I have also been Business Manager, publicity Manager for one year and, for a short time, Chairman. All positions I have enjoyed doing. Now I help the Wednesday Lunch Club at Pennybridge where we build and paint scenery and props for the Urmston Musical Theatre shows. We were all very pleased when, last year, we won an award for building our own sets for Viva Mexico. Nice to see the backstage winning an award.

I would like to pass on my best wishes to Win Bell, Chair of the Ladies Committee who, like me, also receives her fifty year medal. In finishing my story, let’s hope that Urmston Musical Theatre and Canterbury Players will carry on going from strength to strength performing shows that will please everyone.