MELTHAM PARISH CHURCH GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SOCIETY

Potted History

A meeting was held in the Civic Hall Meltham on 20^th January 1963, convened by Mr. Leslie Armstrong and Mr. Denis H Holmes.

It was decided to form a Meltham Parish Church Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

The following officers were elected:-

• Chairman Mr. A. M. Dunn
• Secretary Miss Christine O’Connor
• Treasurer Mr. D. H. Holmes
• Musical Director Mr. L. Armstrong
• Accompanist Mr. D. Riley
• Producer Mr. L Earnshaw (if and when required)

It was decided this year to give a concert version of the “Gondoliers” in September 1963. Tickets were 2/6d. Profit from the show was £18.7s.1½d A jumble sale was held in March 1963. The profit was £11. 4s. 1½d. (today well over £100). The Annual meeting was held on 3rd December 1963. After a successful year it was decided to give £20 to Church “Gift Day” (In 1999 we gave£1340 to the Church Hall and £400 to the Church General Fund.)

A Concert Version of The “Mikado” was given in January 1964, and after a long discussion it was decided to give a full costumed stage version of “HMS Pinafore”. The cost for the hire of costumes was 22/6d per costume (in 1999 it was £14.50.) The hire of the music for the orchestra was £6 (In 1999 it was £75).

The subscription charge was fixed at 5 shillings per year, and remained at that for over 20 years.
(It is now £10 per singing member and £2 per non-singing member.)

In the minutes it was stated that the meeting finished at 10 pm. But the “gossip” ran on.

In the past 35 years we have had

• 4 Presidents
• 13 Secretaries
• 6 Treasurers
• 5 Musical Directors
• 9 Accompanists
• 6 Producers
• 2 Chairmen

Productions