..
lYERS IN PERFORMERS ifev I f ' ' ' i i'' k - J r ' n C ' h
rrjIE historical pageant ip the times, was chfillenged | itklf
—Britain’s capricious climrite. Al ter a week of glorious sunshine, malicious finger into the. celebrations to bring the pageant thunderstorm of tropical
, , clothes. jTo add to
pageant fearing that stand
I Methodist Church. Photo.: R Wrlgley.
Ictor, D. Robln- Ite, C. H. Taft, ]thltehead, .A. C. J. B. Aspden,
t). Robinson, E. h. P. H. Smith, Burtion, D. Cox- . Hargreaves,
E. iCro.'sley; Adlgall, Miss; Edmondson; Elspeth, Miss S. Bli wlstle; Rosemary, Miss M. iRli wlstle.
THE PURITANS (,OF RIBBLESDALE
|tam, C Darnell, |ard, B. Lord, B. Taylor, C,
foar, Q. H. Daw- f iardner, P. Har- H. Hodgson,
I ’Farklngton, A. Scott, R. K.
■Hand, i G. Mc- ^son, J. Sower- bn, J. M. War- fon, P. M. Wll- bn, M. Black-
b, J. Thompson, , Wilkinson, K. P. Dugdale, K. N. Hooley, J.
r, P. A. Bridge, j. Clayton, W. S.
Ion,' \V.‘ G. Hale, J D. Parker, P. J.
Icter,, K. Stand-' A. iTodd, R.
J B. Aspden, K. ley,' P,' lAmes, R.
pon; P, Lancas- Thonipson, M.’
lon,:R. W.' Seed, pharples, J. M. h, J. E. Wllkln- pd A. Turpin.
■
iLund;! Attend- Wlgnall, A.
n■ ' 'Imar School M.l Elliott;
Iker; ; Pages, A. ] D.^ ;WrathalI; K J. Lofthouse. Ilins, E. Howell, pgg, J. Ingham hies, M. Coates, Hinds', D; Stark, cdmanj M. Sut-
j 'J . Browett, J. Irth.
,
klTCHES Ch^Dcl.
G. : Wrlgley; Wilkinson, J.
Andj,B;j DpvJejp; iKr/A. Jones;
brk), ,-W. Cow- ]ers,J, 'Penman, llklnson and J. I T., At Wrlgley.
Ilrsl' Parkinson, uckworth, Mrs.
|m , : Miss Smith Children, J.
I M. Duckworth, her, J.' Cowper- |m and ,M. Bool.
|rs. P. Addison; Jrs.;; A, Ecclek; children, J. and S. RoblP:
Isteri Ri Eccles;
. M. lEmbley; E. ; Chester;
I e. Mason; Ann bornher;., Kath-
I d . Smith; ; Iso- Jlarshall; Alice Itnson; Margaret Duckworth:
lickles.! '
BREAKFAST Dancers
leli; l ^ e Queen, V ; Daily Maids, pennlngtoh, S. iCharnley, D.
hleyland P. W11-' ES HO/VIE
Jdharacters, S. tick, 3., Cottam, p; P. Stanworth, Jacnani'ara, M. bon,; D.. Walker, I r arid J. Wick.
fir. M. Jackson; pdrey Davies. A.jLeemlng, J.
J Thompson and Ige ‘Sellero, E. 1 E. Vose; Nell Children, J.
jiman, J. Booth- and B. -Chat-
Jys, Mr. B- Hara- iMiss D. Blrtles,;
I. C. Speald, M. Kterfleld arid J. Eolland,' E. Kay, llelsbn and Mrs.' London, Mrs.
[. Clarke, Misses b, K. Campbell,
[Richardson, B. dsley and Mrs.
loft. Miss , D. T Newell, Miss-1. Marsden, Miss
The Musical Director: jaiR. H. B. sriivw^
o r c h e s t r a !
Bullock, Miss F. Carr; J. :Butt?r- worth, R. W. Harris, T. IshetwPod and W. Asplnall; 2nd Violins, [W. Jackson, Mrs. Metcalf, H. ’Vhlt-
I ; 1st violins, Wm. Thornber,
H.
! taker. Miss Parkinson, Miss W.lM. ! L. Lumb, Miss R. Robert^ [B. I Lawton and 8. Haworth; , Vjlolas, j; P . . H. Clough and Mrs. i.. |H. I'Bullock; Cellos, J. Hlgsoii, jC. ; Isherwood and Miss M./ Caru;. ,
j J. Marsden, W. Ohamberlati, B. ! Exiey, H. Hensman and Miss M. I Kay; 1 Horn,' J, Roberts; I lanO. L.i j . Getgood; Trumpet, i F. Worden.
i ; Bass, W. Marshall and H. Wlg-i i glesworth; Flutes' and , Clar nets,
I Clitherce Congregatianal Chui'cl
! Thomas Jollle, E.. Coates; Deacons, R. T. Radclllle, f W.
i Turner,,. J. Lund, Miss J . liurid, i Miss M. Dugdale, Mrs. K. Hough ton, Miss M. Booth, Miss K. Ca np-
, bell, J. Pym, Mrs. Sowerbutts, Uev. : C. J. Guildford, Miss P. South ern, : Mrs. A.'Forrest, Miss P..Holgate, ! Miss C, Macfarlane, Miss H./Coites,' Mrs. H. Robinson, Miss D. Speak!, A.
; Woodcock, Mrs. E. Coates, Mrs!. R ; Badger,' Mrs. F.l Crltchley, E. Flack, ' J.; Wilkinson, J. Blafckburn, A,
fs. Sowerbutts, Mlqs M. Speak; IMiss K, Plack.
Clltherpnlans,
Ison;;' Roger Nowell, i Constables, i S. H ; Bennett.
;Mrs.: J. Moore, Mis; N. Flack; Messeii
J, Mri
sowerbutts. Miss E. Wilson, Miss CnTTTnwVtiiffe Hiftcc* QrvAntr; »«««■
lssB. A. Woodcp;
E..Laycock ger, K, Par T. Wilkin;
lulker -and ROMANTIC HIGHWAYMAH iMrs. Rendell’s Players
I The Proud Lady, F. Ecoles; '.Clltheroe Ladles,
Standring
1 Robinson, J. Morton, E. Kerst aw. B. Scattergood, L. Parker!
! DANCERS OF h th CENTURV t ■ ■ I
iNally, A. McNally, J. Jackson, ;Gudgeon, P, Gudgeon, S. Webster, ID. Blrtwell, P. Blrtwell, A. Blrtjwell, It . Stephenson, I. Stephenson,! H. iLaroWska, C. Rawcllffe, P. Blthell, IM. Booth, M. W nterbottom', E. i Batts, IR.'Hargreavis.
Miss Sherliker’s Dancers K.! Wilkinson, P. McNally, si
'
'j i ; '*
...CHOIR-: ; 'B.! Coates, J. Bi.te,'E. Horsrield, ;C. Richards, G. A iC. Bishop, D. Hannson, R. WRson, :iE. Thompson, ,D.:
len, H. CowgUl, Nelson, T. .Dug-
I Pemberton, J. Wilson, J. Hackttt, M. Taylor, K. Sims, D. Keririebn, i S. Smith, E. Eaton, G. Davl^!^
:dale; E. Bolton, E. Ellse, T. Both- ;ersall;,
D..Campbeli, F. Knowlw, J. !Aldersley, B. Edon, M. Clarki, J. ,;Wllson, I. Parker! M. Hargreaves, ' ,J. Sutclllfe; T. Taylor, E.-Birtwistle,' ;M. Morris, G.. Skbels, B. Lord, j E. Spencer, B. Mason, D. Taylor, | A. Bennett, S. WatsOn, A. Mashlter, N. Briggs, I. Beardsworth, e ! M is- grove,; S. Rowe, Si Hammonds, H. Myers, M. Duckworth, 0. Slmrison, ■J. Cowell, H. Grainger, K. Speak, M. Gobderham, M. Lister, Thlstlethwalte, J, Marshall,
'|';\Vllsori, M. Houlsworth. B. ! Vocks,i P. Speak, M. King. M. i Bartleft,! K. Brunker, M. Gral iger, M. Houlker, A; Bretherton Swal'es.'
■ ' ■ I
iWalker, K. Wrench; Hlghwaytrian, J. Walmsley; : .lccompUce,i G. Brogden.'
E. I.
and
Castle grounds, planned as Clltheroe’s ciallenge to the on Saturday by another and mote formikable opponent
the weather poked a to ja dishevllled end in a intensity. This was the bitterly disappbinting climax to months
of preparations, and a crpel blow to performers and spectators alikk E|rly in the day, tlje glorious weather had given no hint of a storm, and spectators were! wearing their lightest summer
the irony, many people {stayed away from the
began under ideal conditidns, before the end of the performance, school ijihildren had to leaveleave th the choir stand because of th(
the ^eat would be too much for them. Yet although! the afternoon 1 CD
ecam of the cold, and parasols, brought as shelters from the
; began, the skies became over-- cast and gradually took on a
mofe ominous look. At the beginning of the thirteenth episode (“ the very numberf commented the narrator),, a shower sent thousands scurry
ing! for shelter, but the performers bravely carried on, despite the confuslopi at the
we carry on? ’’.brought a loud shoiit of ."Yes," and I as thej weather seemed to be clearlng,| maiiy returned to watch the' later episodes.
entrance to the enclosure The narrator’s query, “ shall
; ' FALSE LULl.j j
, show went on, and a hardy; few spectators remained, hop-i Ing against hope that the per-| formance would be completed.; It was not to be. The last;
, But the lull was a false one, and as the pageant p regressed the skies took od an even fiercer look. A loi^e ’plane flying into a portentous blacks ness and then turning, back,! the lowering clouds, and the wind .which whipped the flags and bunting Into sudden activity,, gave warning of thCi wrath! to come. Even; so, the.
except the last were comj pleted, most of them were done a grave Injustice by the weather. About half thg spectators left the grounds after the 12th episode, and even those who ■ remained^ totally unprepared, as they were for , bad weather, were more concerned with the skies than with the stage. Above all, the!, sunshine that would have brought out the full beauty of the' costumes was missing. | Soon after the performance
sun, were beipg used as umbrellas. Although all the episodes
resonant voice, had faded, the strains of the National Anthem brought the whole vast crowd] to its feet, and the Charter Pageant, re creating some of the high- l i j i l t s ' of Clitheroe’s story, had begun,:
Plodding his majestic way down the “Road of History”
gre!y-beardedl . figure stood out In sombre contrast to the gaily dressed children of Clltheroe’s primary schools who surrounded him in a charming stage picture. As Father Time reversed his
. hour-glasS; the crowd was tramported from an August afternoon In 1948 to a day in the! year A.D. 620, as down the Road of History came a dlgnl- fle4 procession, at .Its head a simple cross, the,iarms lashed • together by strlpjof leather.
■ Tlhe Cross' w ^ borne by the Deacon Jamra, and behind him came the g?§at Paullnus, Archbishop of York, the man who preached the gospel td the heathens of tl\e North.
Churqhyard, which are known by his name, greatly strength- ,en |the belief that Paullnus did preach in Rlbblesdale, and tradition has It ®-that he actually preached the gospel to the English of the valley on the; places where the crosses arelerected. ; Members ofISS. Michael and
Tfhe crosses In Whalley
music of the; orchestra; was drowned In a crack of thunder, and spectators fled fori shelter In a torrential downpour. ■
D.
. provoked unstinted admira- ' tion, and the sympathy of outsiders th a t such a rhagni-
LIVELY SCENE '
earlier In the afternoon could -have forseen such a damp ending.- The main streets pre sented .a lively scene as crowds made their way to the Castle entrance, aiid performers In; robes and uniforms and gowns! of almost every- period -of- hlstory threaded' their way- ;through the throng!. ;
Few-who were in the town,
appear to be as tightly packed as at previous pageants, late comers found it difficult to gain ,a comfortable vantage point. All things considered, it was a well-behaved crowd. Disturbances were
although on one occasion, the' narrator Interrupted to- ask people ; standing on the em-' bankment to sit dowh. The request met with ah immedi ate response.;' : . !
f ew;
stir, as through the warm, listless air came the first strident notes of a fanfare, heralding the vanguard of
IMPRESSIVE PROLOGUE There wds an expectant
Clltheroe’s c a v a l c a d e ; of history.
! .- - ■ !
sun's rays, the massed; tiers of spectators, , stretching ! In; a vivid splash of colour to the walls of the .Keep; Itself, watched boys and girls of the choir march down the arena steps and on to the stage.' : Edward 'German’s “Merrie England,” which might' well have been written, It seemed, for such a glorious occasion echoed through the grounds and was replaced by an Im pressive quiet, as the producer and narrator, Mr. L. Hardy, standing at the front of the. stage, began the prologue; to the pageant:
Eyes shaded against the' ;
; “To-day,- proud resolutions made,
In pageant form this truth we see,
Again. ,i ' Photo.;! T. S. Hargreaves.
those last few lines,-beauti fully delivered in a clear,
The people shall be fi^e.” Almost before the sound of
Our England’s glory shall' not fade, ■'
i ' '■
I*arishioners of Clitheroe Parish Church showing how their Ch urch was founded in 1122 AJD|.—the granting' of the charieV a t .
I '. i . 'Pontefract, ; ' . ; j .Photo.: vE'Pye . -
of a glorious ' summer’s ;day,- the Castle grounds I formed a noble pitture as a coiitented, good - humoured: mass ! of people ' in ! light; - coloured clothes, packed the natural amphitheatre,' waiting' for the pageant to begln. -- Althqugh the- crowd did not
Bathed In the hot-sunshine!
ing, and Mephistopheles might well have laughed at the fra ilty of mortals. But even in the face of this unequal struggle w ith the elements, Clitheroe’s- effort
Such was the dismal end
fieent show ’ Should] be so cruelly marred.
,
episode was being presented,; and the 1,000 performers were being marshalled for ther mighty finale when ; grlmj flashes of lightning patterned! the sky like the reflection of a distant artillery barrage and. heralded nature’s own finale ■ for Glitheroe’s pageant. The
John’s .Church depicted the scene as the Archbishop preached - the Truth to the Rlbblesdallans of AD. 620, wlt[i a simple, wholly effective reverence, and particularly moving was the procession of patron saints of. Clltheroe’s
Churches, which followed the band of Christian mission aries, to the stage;
* PARISH. CHURCH I' CHARTER
ed oiice more to his place In the I history books, there came another episode illustrating the! advance of the Christian faith In Rlbblesdale, as mem bers of Clltheroe P a r i s h ChUrch re-enacted the found ing, of the Church of gt. Mary Magdalene In 1122.
. 'When Paullnus had depart . ' - ;
cently detailed dress of King and courtiers standing out In sharp contrast to the sober attire of monks and church men, formed a richly-coloured scene as King Henry the First confirmed the quaintly- worded charter In which Hugh de Laval, Lord of the Honour of Clltheroe, granted to the Prior of Pontefract “ the' chapel of his Castle In Clltheroe, with tithes of all things of his demesne of that Castle: the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene In that place
.The picturesque, magnifi
with what pertains thereto.” I' ■ , .
C l f t h e r o n l a n s of 1122, Clltneroe Parish Church was founded. And as the choir sank the hymn “ All Creatures of Our God and King,” their voices lost momentarily In a. burst of applause, the 'first parishioners- of St. Mary’s Church walked slowly from the arena.
Thus, to the cheers of the - !
behind the afternoon’s first ominous-looking cloud, i flung
The sun, 're-appearlng from ; '
a gigantic spotllgljt on to the stage once more as a group of be-rlbboned little girls—the Margaret' Sandham Junior Dancers—performed a dance of the Middle Ages. Strate gically placed between two
.momentous o c c a s i o n s In ,Clltheroe’s history, the dance
!;“Dainty Ladles” came as a !'charming and . completely acceptable contrast.
caihe Father Time himself, with a retlnufe of small attend ants—representing each of the centuries' and the children of the story books at his heels. Father Time, a black-robed,
CENTRAL EPISODE
rung by inOi Town Gonscame oij ii4'(, was cne signal lor what was perhaps ixie most luiportanc lepisuae of me Wxloie pageanc, me granting of;ine nrsc c ----- - to! me -men years ago.
The sound of a handbell, 'rote, memo-------)ersjo; me notary i Mindful o f\th e ir historic
{Jlitueroe Came, when the great Henry he Lacy, Lord of me Honour of Ulitheroe, granted jrqedom and liberty to the town. [
Led by the] Town Constable,
the citizens and .tradesmen oi clltheroe of 800 years ago tooK tnelr place on the stage and awaited the brlval of . Henry deLacy. Following thenl were prominent IpcalTeaders of the day, the Mrlsh: priest and local pnyslclaln among them. Incidentally, the doctor, his Wife and daughter of 1147,
were portrayed by a filitheroe •doctor, his wife and. daughter of 1948-Dr. E. R. 'B. and Mrs.
Murray and their daughter. A great mve of applause
greeted Henry de Lacy; his lady and retinue, and then a hqsh fell over the crowd as the
famous, words of his charter of; freedom I resounded once
every detail, jj added tremend ously to the effect of w^at one felt was, In frict, history In the making;
a^gain thrdUgh ' , Clltheroe Castle. ' I The costumes, authentic in
c m or i^ltiheroe ana me cumeroe i-nrier wheel Cluo fose to the ocaasion w im a superb p o r trw a l of the scene m me inn e r Bailey of
Members of the Eoiary Club and Inner Wheel Cl jthe granting of Clithcroe’s first Charter
despite his plea for trial by his peers.
|
•Thomas, realising the Inevit ability of ^his fate, Was led away to execution Wlthlni sight of his own castle Walls! was portrayed With sincerity and an effective; restraint,
! The poignant scqnO j
• PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE ’
; ■
tragedies, Wrought by oppres sion and Injustice, was! out lined In the second episode
‘sombre grandeur of the stage setting formed an almost ;sym- bollcl background as I the Pilgrimage'Of Grace, hkded by the Abbots of Whalley and: Sawley and local leaders of the Pilgrimage, came slowly to the stage.
presented tjy SS.- Michael and John’s Church. Gathering thunder ’ clouds and i the
j; ' ' ,]
the stirring ntuslc-of the next episode, In which the choir of 100: scholars! of RlbblSsdale Modern Schbol .Joined<;with the i orchestra In a 'pleasing Interpretatloh of ilput-JClng
■SECONcj GHARTeS
tion by St. Jaimes’s Church of the ceremony at which the Earl of .Lincoln granted full' free dom to the burgesses of Clltheroe In 1283 was the gallant Earl himself, a com manding figure: in striking robes of. velvejt and gold.
Dominating the presenta
ordination between actors and narrator, a blend of many hues In the coktumes of noble men and their ladles, and a jubljant climax as the children danced joyfimy round the stage when Henry, Earl of Lincoln, walke'd In stately pro cession from the arena after granting the]power of local government to Clltheroe. Yet another contrast, as
Here again complete co
stage. Their] dance, a taran^ tella, punctuafed by the tinkle and crash of ithe tambourine, won deserved Applause as one of the best of the pageant’s many .delightful dances.
girls of the Clftheroe Operatic Dancing Troupe took the
ing moods h f history itself was the rhpid transition from gaiety ijto drama as the crash of the tambourine was replaced by of Thomas, caster and Honour of C period of when mercb little.
Illustrative of the chang
lith e ro e .in th a t m g lis h : history
the piteous cry Earl • of Lan- Lord of the
co u n te d -fo r
drama which lay heavily over Pontefract- Castle on that eventful day in March; 1323, when the gentle Thpmas was falsely: accused ,of treason,, murder and robbery, was por,- trayed with gripping rpallsm: by members of Moor Lane Methodist Chapel. ; ;
The atmosphere of stark
by Andrew Harclay and taken as a prisoner; to Pontefract. Thomas was condemned to
Captured at iBorough Castle Worthy of the occasion Was
Sawley were expelled froih the Abbey, an dctlon which led to a great local rising. ! Un happily, the local leaders of the Pilgrimage, Nicholas Tempest of Bashall, I and ' S t e p h e n ; Hammerton of Glgglqswlck; together with the Abbots of Whalley and Sawley, were executed and the. Abbeys despoiled, [ their' posskslons sold, and the proceeds stolen to swell the coffers of the King. Such was |the fate of the Pilgrimage' of Grace, enacted with the dignity and sincerity of men fighting for a cause in which they believed.
In April, 1536, the monks of'
touch of colour to this vast canvas, Mrs. H. Gradwell’s Ladles, exquisitely gowned In costumes , of the 16th century, danced’ a stately 'measure to
Addlng'.their own' distinctive
music adap ed -from a tradi tional Tudor air.
of I the dati'ce eoriveyed admirably the spirit of that elegant teriod of British history, but there wasi little th a t was klegant in. the be ginning of'the next episode.
'The graceful movements
Introduced;a note of humour, doubly welcome to an. audi ence which keeping one
did the frown on-the face of the schoolmaster of 1283, for the saying “Boys will be boys” was as true Ih tne 13th: century as it Is In the twentieth.!
on the darkening sky. As the sky darkened, so also
FTtflr oIftf - !
A FAMOU^ ^SCHOOLBOY Particularly 'amusingj were
th e . adventures, of ; Robert Buck, who Is! the first Clltheroe schoolboy known by name. He,. It; Is' recorded, ran jaway from school because he Was so cruelly beaten, and; . as “mensa” wak declined, ‘famo” conjugated, land the ‘Twice times ” table . recited, young Buck received thrashings for facetious interruptions. i And finally, 'Master Buck ran: from his master’s birch down the Road of History; the I class resumed a 'Composure appro priate to a!drowsy summer’s afternoon, and ultimately fell asleep.
I . ■ i
went forward to 1554. On to the stage stepped King-Philip and; Queen Mary of England,
. As they slumbered, the clock
. The entry of a handful of Clltheroe schoolboys , of i . 1283
by this time was t eye permanently
A n o t h e r of ; history’s ■ ■ I
death by jlKlng Edward U, j
. Governors of the
followed by the Chester, and the
i
) make their way to the sta; I if freedom.
Photo!
School, and the granting of the charter ito the School was enacted.
j
arena, the weatherj caused the first major Interruption in the performance.
As the prpeesskni'left th?
across the amphitheatre by a rising wind, scattered hun dreds of coatless spectators on. the slopes kbove ;he arena, and there was a rush! for shelter by many In ;he enclos ure Itself.- i
Heavy drops of rqln, blown j i : '
i for the moment a t ; any rate, and a temporary jhold-ti'p in the performance was due, not to rain, but to alstream! of people .who blocked i the entrance to the enfciosure! ' An appeal from th;e harfdtor rkstored the situation and the crowd drew back tolmakeiway
The alarm was ppoved false,
dor Francis Drake and! his ship’s company of tpe Golden Hind, home again after sailing round the globe lnA580. !
.. Britairis’ history] gave a now-depleted audience a
. brief glimpse - Of Good , Quee(f^^esfs glorious dqys.
QlenvUle,; Philip. Sydney.' and many more were recreated Tor the moment as two of the! most famous incidents: an; era:
'Walter Ralelghl |; Richard
crammed with faffidus events- were portrayed, on the deck of the Golden Hlnd.y. j;
! As, Elizabeth and her retinue arrived’ -to visit f-the ship,' Raleigh, gallantly - spread' his cloaA so that his Queen might step dryshod.over the offend-. Ing pool of water,';, and then Elizabeth, after calling Drake a rascal'and a pliiriderer, bade him; .'! Rise,,; Sir f;' iFrancls,’,’ greatly, to the indignation of the
swarthy.Mendoza, Ambas sador of Spain.
1. j
picturesque note, i with . the Queen's - attendants: berf orm-: Ing an Intricate dance, and as. the cholf burst Into; the rous-
The episode ended on a
■Ing “Glad Hearts iAdventur- Ing,”: Elizabeth, Drake, Raleigh and the rest,made; their exit,' cloaks and long velvet' skirts' ruffling bravely In the, wind.'. '
not kindly to the gay colour ing of! Elizabethan! splendour, it hardly seemed], [Ihappro- prlate; .to the arrival . of; Mephistopheles and - his attendant imps- to witness’ the trial of the hotorldus Pendle Witches. Members of Water loo Methodist Chur(di.: fairly! revelled in their pdrtrayaTof the capture and trial of this evil band.
If the stormy s?ttlng iwas
FITTING overture; , I
i ]
thunder sounded ai- fitting overture as;: Old] Demdlke, doddering Chattox,; the Red- ferns and ■ the Devices, with the ir . conical hats, i broom sticks and dead black cloaks, came Impudently to the stage, to be tried by Roger Nowell of Read Hall. i a,.; ; [ We saw them condemned to
An echoing crash] or distant
death for the devllrv jto which they cpnfessed, :and| as they were dragged from the arena,
' ' '!■ ' i' '
. Grammar School] this scene from what is prpbably th e . most colo urfu lpe rio d, of
; girls of Clitheroe Royal. Presented by |i hoys \ and
ijBlshop of 3lx original Grammar
gleeful and h!s knell. For spectators
•se to portray t , R. Wrlgley |
I
history wltpout tears-a|com- pletely entertaining' taste of- Rlbblesdale lore. ,
____ .ow left, this was , I
! Bewitching in an entirely different sCpse wis the dance Interlude by' seniors' of the Margaret Sandham SchooTof
Dancing, who ddfled: the dis heartening;' approach: Towering black with a; llght-he based on A, A, 1 “ The King’s Breakfast.”.
. costumes i iohich selves] were an
I surpassed] in ■ colour the
Of.i the many ..<eri
• ; Charles -the- Second tO England in the year m o . ’ \
Clltheroe ladles with their maids travelled: to London to be present when King Charles;
The-episode told how three
Bummer. Nlghtj’s -Dreadi.’’' v ' There was The-ygiltter .’ofs^af
returned to. England, on his. birthday.; In
London.they are 'lnvlted ;by Samuel Pepys, the famous diarist,- to a reception at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where there iisi to b?;a. performance.!' of
undismayed by the" darkening scene..;" : :j.:
PURITANS|i|NRIBBLES. i -M D A L E - '.^
of Lancashire Nonconformity and the building by Thomas
A reminder of the early days
Jollle ' o f his' chapel , at 'Wymondhousts was provided
by members of iClltheroe Con gregational Church, dressed ;n the austere, garments of' the ■ Puritans of.1667. , .
,!’| The scene depicted a service fit. which Jollle'fras preaching, when the quiet - air was suddenly disturbed as lnto the enclosure . dashed. the Villain ous Roger Nowell, and his two constables;Nowell, one- of
' Jollle’s •; most! bitter enemies, searched high] and low, but the minister escaped a r r e s t through a tfiip-door,ln the p'ulp|t.''|‘' : .j-;:'
neatly.and effectively presen-; ted.;
! Aii excellent! episode this, , !. ■
I ! As'the;^eys and blacks ol ■the Puritans i faded:' Into the! gloom^
History, time galloped forward to the 18th:century. to a dash
-4 along! the Road of
ing episode; iof highwaymen and fair ladles. Presented by Mrs. Rendell’s Players,, the scene showed; how a group of ladles'on the;. Clltheroe high- ■ way of; 1799 were deprived of their purses by the romaiitlc highwayman;- Claude DuydL He stole their purses, and n?' stole their hearts too, as he danced; a gavotte- with the proud lady of Clltheroe. After the dance, Duval gallantly returned the purses to his partner.
.tne first-flashes of lightning; cleared the remaining specta tors from the grassy slopes.
rode away, were lost In re peated; rolls of thunder, and
Prom the glorlpus sunshln?
'Of a perfect summer’s day, the scene took on the depressing gloom ; of a late November afternoon. But still the show went on,-
dancers of ;the TiVentleth Century, a group of tiny tots trained by ; ■. Miss , Marie Sherliker. The warmth of their, ' reception must. have compensated to some degree for the chilling wind, as the scene lof cleverlyi. executed speciality dances proceeded:.>-
1 On to the istage came the
- Then, as the children werV assembling for th?' final tableau, the electricity supply
alike rushed for shelter to the stage as, the [first' few drops swiftly; multiplied into .ft. relentless downpour.
failed, the stage lights- went out, the loudspeakers-' werB silent, and the; rains came. ^ ; Performers and spectators
■ ' forml/«
d.par b o t t l lT I '
iWben your head is throbbing; a*ay:“nineteen to. the dozen”; and the daily tasks are hard to; Ido, take a Be^chm’s Powder I \ You won’t have to wait. longi for reliefj because:BEECHAM’S POWDERS arc rapidly assimilated and] are therefore speedy in action. That is the reason why this'; popular remedy is relied upon by so many ; people throughout the country, i That is why' wise ■ men and iwomen turn; confidendy to BEECHAM’S POWDERS - when they need
quick relief. Try them yourself TO-DAY 1 ' ‘ ■ ■ ' ' I I .
Xiriurxfcriiira*)’ Powden forSid.' , ; : r '.'i' ; The-thud of hooves as Duval
Beeeham'i P ow ile ra ARE ipeed/ In amont
although ‘.' A" Midsummer; Night’sDream!' can seldom,' have been performed- under less Idyllic conditions, , the per-, formers carried on: gallant^,
; gowns worn bi) the TruteX : Players in\ their episode' ; depicting^ the re tu rn ' of;
feature Of the-^ageani-fnone beauty and magnificent
outstanding^
gorgeous in them'
___________ ^
rain-clouds, a'rted dance e’s poem,
of
outs from the lDeVll ips souhded a fitting the lew hundred
.
.the author of the pageant, the Dprough Ils deeply indebted,
THE TOWN’S- THANKS _To Mr[ Arthur , Langshaw,
and other generations besides our own; will have tause'to remember h!s nanle with gratitude; He has made maiiy invaluable ’ contributions to the town’s records, l and, In
writing; the original]book of tl)e pageant has perform-ad
nbt.only a monuraeiital task of carefully compiled detail. It orndmentcd the, script and; noble language.
a century, Mr. H. B. dnpw h-o For more than a quarter
been the leader of the rtowili’s 'musical life, arid holds pri
jUnlque position In the’ affec tions oi Its people. His own technical skill Is equalled,' lire that of Mr-. Hardy, with a masterly knack of getting t ie best from' others, and orice
" led'
of history, the humour and tragedy of actual events, ‘ he; hqs drav/n a romantiq arid fascinating picture that will stand both , as; an enduring reminder jof Glitheroe’s story, and a lasting, tribute' to Mr.- Langshawjhimself,.. r ' j
lartet of ireecl'om oc ufimeroe, Buu
. performance of any: magm-. tude; In Olitheroe without at the same
t.me thinking of Mr.' L.( 'Hardy,' M.A.,- for i he- has- become Inseparably' linked with, and almost a syinboi of,-'
It; Is hard to Visualise a stage
Clitheroe’s has raised amateur ■ very high
--------- , lis his; ability.xo •impart. some of his own un bounded^ enthusiasm into joffters, and in this', his latest a c h ie v e m e n t ’, \he has. demonstrated Once .again me breadth of hisl percey- tm and the b rU im t ability
; The ; i t '.see
.’cret of his-succes's,
: His : !ass,essment‘']ofi: the. dramatic’; i arid''‘: hls' uribanriy' gift of^kndwlng the eiact Iffi-; pact: of'j'.a;. word,; phrase, br-: situation uppri an- audience, is a„! priceless;. asset to;; a ’ to™, srich as Clltheboe, .which' seeks, and Indeed dema'rids almost' asr- a normal i requirement; - A standard, of performance- t'o which fewjother towns',In,the- country ■ would aspire.: and feper stlUl would.evffl bee -ds •aii'accompllslled factp
■with iphkh
.he.is able to put ^dea^ M°■ d^.^0^Oh
[
tibn offtheislze of Cutheroe's pagearitwds ari-enofmous task even for man] of -his .ouli- stindlrig', capability,;;[for! -the. ranuflcatloris; ; o{ production assoclated;wltli' any Btagepef- formance jare I inultlplled \ hilndredfold when !tqe caS
|The.:hanhuhg:ofa'hresent8i- a: ,• MJd- ■.
great State occasion in the. arrival; of;: the .King, and -
'ot|:these,a'd'd!^b{hfe'r'd|fficultles' •top riumef bus' to cataipgfie, b u t : despltelthem he Kas'snbwnTi magnificent 'spirit oN confid ence; arid determlnaflbn. 1
; .'Even' bri - iSaturday] .when Nature waS''doing .her' best' tb;- Tulni his handiwork.^ [When a
sudden'downpbut on; some-bf ■ the hired ebstumes, mlght haVe meantaddltlbrial experiSe irutinlng to hundreds ■'o f porindslMr Hardy found tlirie’ toj . draw -'ilpott. his % lt' and exclaim"'-' We'seemtbl be 'hav- ■ Ing a thundering good time." That remafk itself-Is ]the best tribute i to jhis iinperturbable temperamenfand;; thbroUghly' charticterlstlc of a personality;
to ' whom' pUtheroe owes qo' much." !■!,, . i -■ . I;. II ;
I' i ..'■ I,
the pageant Is ri measure of ■ .Mr. Hardy's.s'uccesi m'theface
only,once.:I ■ |' ]' ]l ... T- The 'praise' bestowed. upon
nmbers ajthousandipeople df differing age and experience; thq stage fin extended band stand -Wlth;one ehtrahce-icuni- exit,; and all the performers brbught together in ffehearsfil
artistic life, arid level,
the staridafd of It's’ performances to*'a"
' ■f;
dth rich jOut of ithe light
aiid.shade,
again, his quietly e^ficle]nt work In arranging t ie orchestratlbns and rehbarsl ig cnoir. arid orchestra, doupl >d with his accustomed i ' direction at the perrorn.„™ Itself, resulted In the attalri ment of a musical standard of real excellence In spite obvious disadvantage open-air performance..
;Job' ■ ■ . ; ' ■ i .1 The choir revealed 'Cfeauk-
: dreiis’ voices was oneiof the most pleasing features hf ; the e n tire ’Perforn\ance. |
; ’ From ,8'tdrt to finish, the children were always on call, but' sang with enthusiasm arid oMbus enjoyment.' It iwbs a pity thelt voices were not more adequately amplified; brit this did. not detract |rom the qualify of their - perfoririande, which drew from, Mr. | Shaw one bf the highest' fiompil-
ments that could be pald^To thepii “It Is the best oholrll have ever handled In a per
formance such as this,” . he declared.■
. |
llker,' Mrs,. H ,. GradwelL ,ar d- Mrs. N. Haworth, was reflectfd- in the skilfully presentf d dance interludes, 'which ran like bright threads through a vast itapebtry.’' ' ’The,- daneps showed originality Ip design
dancing mistresses. Miss'Mai y Waddlngton, Miss Marie; She:'-
:and dexterity ‘liF’ exeoutidi, and both dancers and' 'tutors are; worthy- of- very-, sincere ■prplse. ■ ’ ■"
"'Marshalling of: the-varloUs episodes wasvcapably undef-' taken] ‘ by. Mr. S. WeSthead,' upon iwhom-rested the princi pal burden of ensuring the smooth running of thei peN fbrmance. The, fact that dll' the players were In thelrlght place! at the right time I Is Ta tribute to his thorough organisation an d
...perfect understanding of the pro ducer's requirements.
' f Mr. jl. R. C. Greenwood dis
,A. Varty and T.', Saridefson. The duties oLproperty' masters
charged the duties of'istage manager, and- Wes'-Icapably assisted by Messrs.,M. Hartley,'
' were.riridertskea by Messrs. B.-. . 'S h a r iJ l^ nO . Thornber,’arid
Mr. Hardyiwas^sslsted-ln the-
narration-.by Mr. Greenwood- and Miss Audrey Bradshaw.'] . .Staglrig, construction' and
•ted with':,such: a'-' glgdntiC-! .enterprise!'-''.'!' - " ’['■'r ip:!;-
estat?: management was under the able supervision ]. of -the Bofough Engineer, iMr. J. Newtbn Bell, wh'o'iwlthlhis'Btalff can be compllmerited]"on''the neatrippearance.of the Castle grounds. -Othef' members’ df. the Corporation staff'are also' deservlng,,of:warm thanksifbc the public-spirited ,way which; they have uriderL their. share, of. the ruanffoL. administrative duties associa-..
'HA.W. .I.l;- jEOMdi«)8]0^8 s r f " ^ ;t i fi.iisll. ini addiflan we glva'it/.’ In tha
; ii; ; ! , ;: (ill;utility furniture end uuholatary.!' vvV : a l l ] UTIUTY FdRNl'irURE HOW' COUPONIPRHBI
!Wpoi MariTasa’al^Ingia'dram 55/ri . full alia from £3/n/B, Sprins lntarior;Maitrasseo-8 ngla. from £8/l8/>i full alia ! , '
'.I';,: :!
8-nleea Unout (Pahel'Bed^teada .
21];gns.v; • , Pver.fSd.ODB gf: furnltura In atock,. ■'
„ -,-^8ulle8—50gns. to gsOgna,, , ' Sldoboard^ ■
Open'Evaijinga t i ll 7] p.'m... — Badroom Suites, .or, Dorfa,
Op^n uniir7.0 eaoti aii • , , .i.‘ . i ’' SB/toaiDARWEN ST
sfilng.;tj-; BRIDdB: • , BUOKR
-BET Ur n .
S
I.to p o ||^ j,nd ' ' , Thb hard work put In by, tl le ' I
under the-expert tuition jof Miss M. Fisher, of Rlbblesdale School, who has done ai grand
In rehearsal, the choir w^s '
fu l done and'balance;' and the \ freshness of.'. the chil-
l.ll .1
fi .
I It
If. I
I ' 1
THAT’S
RELIEVED MY
AraalioSplendlilfa'r'l NERVE PAINS
NEURALGIA RHEUMATIC pains: '
OLDS & CHILLS^
LUMBAGO Summeti
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