September 2015 Re-Union.
The latest Re-Union took place at the Royal Forest Hotel in September and proved to be another enjoyable evening with the opportunity to spend some time and share stories with other former members of the Drama Club – albeit that a few last minute and unavoidable ‘apologies’ meant that the attendance was not as high as in May 2014.
However, there was sufficient encouragement from those present, and via the ‘apologies’, to suggest that having another one at some future date would be welcomed and the CMMF group agreed that they would, in due course, put the necessary arrangements in place.
The CMMF & Projects
The Fund has one project in the pipeline with Jenny Manser (Lepley) – now almost back to her usual 101 mph ‘community work speed’ – looking to recruit a tutor to run a pilot scheme for establishing a Youth Theatre in her home village of Aylsham in Norfolk.
In an earlier project Jenny established a quite unique link between the local High School and the young adults in a nearby residential community farm, with this resulting in a joint performance of an adapted version of ‘Macbeth’ – with the overall project also getting the bonus of converting a barn in the farm grounds into an ongoing theatre space! It has been really good to hear that this link, and the facilitation of this through the Community Care Centre that Jenny is involved with, has continued to grow and resulted in another, locally funded, joint project this year. This was similarly staged in the Barn Theatre and again featured one of ‘Bill the Quill’s works – ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ – with Jenny subsequently reporting on an even bigger audience than the previous year’s 150 – and Standing Ovations!
So, clearly plenty of local enthusiasm and potential members of the intended Youth Theatre Project – plus the ‘Barn’ as a really ‘quirky’ purpose built facility for their future productions.
Markhouse Drama Club – New Website & Dick’s ‘walthamstowhistory.com’
Although the decision was taken to develop a dedicated Markhouse Drama Club Website, it was hoped that Dickie’s original ‘walthamstowhistory.com’ site would continue in some way so that all of his ‘non Drama Club/School’ memorabilia could still be put to use. Over the past several weeks John has been in contact with a couple of Dickies ‘transport’ related friends and with only a few days to go before the site was due to close, the Coppermill Pump House Museum confirmed that they had agreed to fund and manage the website. So really pleasing news and many thanks to John for his work – and persistence!
Mick Everett
It is good to be able to mention that a note was received from Mick Everett who, after a ‘forced layoff’ confirms that he is doing well and now back at his studio – and that he will be at the 2016 Punch & Judy Festival at St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden on Sunday 8th May. Mick says he will be pleased if anyone can pop by during the day to renew the acquaintance – but in the meantime passes on his best wishes to all!