1942; School Variety Concert

At the beginning of last term it was proposed to hold a concert. The idea behind the proposal was to provide an interesting, activity for the long winter evenings.
The suggestion was enthusiastically welcomed by a large number, so many in fact, that it was found convenient to organise the players into form groups.
Mr. Ninnim selected and arranged a programme. A time-table was drawn up, and rehearsals were started at once and carried out in the small Club room, the Leominster Grammar School, and the Pavilion.
On December 18th the Concert was given at the Church Institute. The programme held the audience from the beginning. Built up to give a continuos performance, it was carried out effectively, without a hitch, and amply justified the amount of work and time put in by all concerned.
The show opened in the authentic concert party manner with a chorus, Laugh and the World Laughs, and closed with a humorous concert item. Some twenty singers, named the ''Songsters," took part. They sang together clearly, their whole performance being a most creditable one. They also rendered Land of Hope and Glory, with A.E.Brown, solo, the audience eagerly joining in the chorus,
The Junior School gave a selection of short sketches, Form ii. performing The Ghost that Gibbered, which was well done and much appreciated by the younger members of the audience. Form iii. undertook two short plays, Nature abhors a Vavuum and The New Mayor. In both these items the diction was clear and the character parts well acted; outstanding boys were Payling, Newell, Doree, D. A. Smith and Taylor.
The Fourth Form were rather unlucky with their play, and decided, two weeks before the show was due, on an entirely new item, a humorous concert song, Tally Ho. C.T. Veal, as a comedian was very funny; while Barrctt was a little lost in his part. However, all are to he congratulated on a praiseworthy effort.
Form Vb. performed two lightning sketches, which were very entertaining. This form also put on a crook play called Stalemate. The character parts were difficult, but Guest, Munday and Munns did well, acting commendably in a piece with a very subtle plot.
The Form VA, item, Broadcasting, was well presented. The outstanding features were Dunn's impersonation of Bruce Bellfrage and Bennett and Davey's imitation of Murray and Mooney. The whole item, was a success because it was simple and did not need any stage props.
Colin Bennett gave a very fair performance with his famous ukulele.
The Vith Form produced a clever play in rhyme called Ask a Policeman, depicting a race track scene. Wickenden as a book-maker and Smith as a schoolgirl were extremely well cast.
Special mention must be made of Mr.Watson, whose various, renderings of The Charge of the Light Brigade brought the climax of the afternoon's laughter.
When one considers the obstacles that were surmounted in putting on the show, it was a good effort and far exceeded expectations. Mr. Ninnim, as producer, put in hours of hard work, and his efforts alone made the show possible. He is to be heartily congratulated. Thanks are due to Mr. and Mrs. Watson for making, up the artistes, which they did most skilfully with a very small allowance of make-up; to Miss Fortescue for dressing the female characters; to Mrs. Ninnim for making costumes; to Mr. Williams for loaning the hall and for his interest and consideration; and to Mr. Rowland Jones for the loan of furniture.