Fun in youth club shows led to lifelong friendships

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June Goodwin (now Antill) of Breadall Village recalls the fun times she and her fellow members of St Augustine’s Youth Fellowship had in the 1950s, rehearsing and performing in their annual pantomimes.

The principals in the 1953 Goody Two Shoes production, from left: Janet Foster, Valerie Slater, Graham Headworth, ?, June Goodwin and Freda Appleby

Recent photographs and articles about St Augustine’s Youth Fellowship, in Almond Street, Derby, and the shows we used to put on, reminded me of the fun we enjoyed doing those productions and the companionship which resulted in lifelong friendships.

Like Joan Slater (nee Bradbury), who sent in the article, I lived on Clarence Road. My father was an auto-electrician and his garage faced Dale School gardens.

The pantomimes began after the Second World War years. They were always staged at the end of January for four consecutive nights. One year, we put on a Saturday matinee as tickets were in great demand.

I can recall many of the names on the Goody Two Shoes photo, taken in 1953. There was myself, June Goodwin (now Antill), fourth from the left, on the row behind Joan Bradbury, with the mop of dark hair.

The majority of these ladies were members of the chorus in this show.

The entire cast of Goody Two Shoes in 1953

The photo on the right shows the whole cast, in particular Brian Glazebrook as the dame and Maureen Bradley as the witch and a good fairy. Many of the members played several parts.

I was pleased to be asked to join the chorus in my first panto in 1952, aged 13, as I loved tap and ballet dancing.

This show was Humpty Dumpty and I can remember, at the dress rehearsal, our red taffeta costumes were considered to be too short – a great disaster.

However, they were quickly lengthened by adding on strips of the same fabric (purchased from Render’s shop in East Street) to cover our modesty, as can be seen in the photograph, below left, showing the chorus line-up with Brenda Glazebrook and Brenda Barnes in the centre.

Some of the cast of Humpty Dumpty in 1952. From left: June Goodwin, Rhoda Paling, Beryl Green, Cynthia Williamson, Brenda Glazebrook, Brenda Barnes, Kathleen Bird, Olive Ashworth, Freda Appleby and Valerie Slater

Most of our scripts were original, written by Chris Paling and friends, with lots of local interest and jokes to involve the audience in true traditional panto style.

Peter Millington also wrote back-up material and we all enjoyed its originality. I took part in every panto from 1952 to 1959, eventually becoming the choreographer.

We were so lucky at “Gussies” to have many talented actors, comics, dancers, singers and writers who contributed to the success of these shows – some of them being founder members of the Good Companions Society.

We have had three very happy “Gussies” reunions since 1992 and myself, Beryl Foulk and several other members would like to see how many folks – not just those in the photos – who share these happy memories would like another get-together.

If so contact either Beryl Foulk (nee Green) on 01332 553895; June Antill ( nee Goodwin) on 01332 832867; Brian Williamson on 01332 671257; or Peter Mellors on 01543 492722. As the Rev John Bull told us at our first reunion, keep in touch.

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