Lillian M. Wilcock"

October 1980

This article appeared in The Chester Chronicle on 24^th October 1980, with the photo of Mrs Wilcock and others of the pantomime.

ARTICLE TEXT

LILLIAN IS STILL PRINCIPAL GIRL

The sure way to get involved in a community is to join the strongest group going. In Buckley for many years it was undoubtedly the "panto people".

Buckley Amateur Pantomime Company was formed in 1932 and lasted longer than most - 28 years and 28 shows later, it finally folded in 1959 due to administrative difficulties.

But the good old days are well remembered by many residents in the area - and none more so than Mrs. Lillian Wilcock, of Delfryn, Lane End, Buckley.

A bright and active lady for her 81 years, Mrs. Wilcock was in at the beginning of the successful pantomime group.

"My husband Peter and I were among the founders of the pantomimes in Buckley" she said. Husband Peter was the resident comedian and Lillian became show choreographer, although she admits she had little experience of dancing and arranging dance sequences.

"It was all good fun and everyone was so enthusiastic" she said.

The show sparkled with professionalism and all seats were booked well before the show began its season at the Tivoli every February.

Financially the pantomime was always a resounding success, which was just as well, recalls Mrs. Wilcock, as all costumes were hired from the best shops.

HIRING

"We often went down to Fox's in London to hire costumes" she said authoritively. Scenery and sets were also hired by the company.

Still the company managed to give out hundreds of pounds to local charities and hospitals every year.

In 1944, led by panto producer Alderman Dennis Griffiths, J.P. they decided to give the money to the community of Buckley.

So the Company bought Hawkesbury House and grounds, the deserted and decaying home of the Catherall family, local brickmakers.

It was transformed into a community centre. Mrs. Wilcock still holds the office of honorary treasurer and in the last few years has been busy negotiating for a new community centre at the same site.

This time the local authorities, together with the Department of Education and Science, are footing the £80,000 bill.

"We did very will for a local group to come up with the money all those years ago, but none of us doubted we could do it" said a confident Mrs. Wilcock.

"In those days there was a very real and strong community spirit".

She should know for as well as being one of the panto's mainstays, and her commitments as centre treasurer, she was actively involved with other community groups in Buckley.

She helped found the local Prisoner of War Relatives' association during the Second World War. She and Peter made sure parcels of food and cigarettes got through to the troops in Germany.

"We were such a good team we kept going after the war and called ourselves Buckley Old Pensioners' Committee" she added.

When her husband died in 1962, Mrs. Wilcock took over his job as treasurer of this committee.

"I nearly gave up then but I'm glad I didn't…I have gained a lot from helping to provide enjoyment for others" she confided.

Carry on she did and when the OAPs packed up three years ago she turned her attentions to helping with hospital work. She only retired as a founder member of Meadowslea Hospital League of Friends over a year ago.

"Anything you wanted to know about what was going on - we all knew who to ask" laughed Mrs. Peggy Downey. Mrs. Downey was for a long time the Principal Girl, then Principal Boy of Buckley pantomimes.

As a former teacher at St. Matthew's Boys' School, Mrs. Wilcock saw many of her old pupils come and go through the pantomime.

"Some are great grandfathers now and they still stop to talk to me in the town centre" she laughed.

Many others will remember her as "Mrs Wilcock - the paper lady". For she and her husband had a newsagent's in Buckley for more than 40 years.

She has now put in 50 years' work for the community and is content to take a back seat, although that means just fewer interests.

She is still a member of Hawkesbury Ladies Guild: she was president for several years. She goes regularly to meetings of Buckley Society, and, of course, the building of the new community centre, dominates her time these days.

As for the panto, it still goes on, reformed about two years ago, under new leadership and fresh faces. Whether it will survive a silver jubilee as Mrs. Wilcock well remembers, with Buckley Amateur Pantomime Company, remains to be seen.

Author: Chester Chronicle

Lillian M. Wilcock"

Tags