Programme for the Elfed School's Production of Christmas Music and Drama Produced by Beatrice Barker, including a one act play 'Why the Chimes Rang'"

Elfed High School, Mill Lane, Buckley

December 1962

The following is a report by an unknown newspaper on the programme, which included the one act play "Why the Chimes Rang" - see 181.30 for a photo of the set.

Modern carols to the accompaniment of a guitar and cornet were heard by parents and friends of the Elfed County Secondary School, Buckley, during the school's Christmas Music and Drama programme on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Ald. Dennis Griffiths presided.

This idea, although not new to the school pupils as modern popular carols have been sung before the school previously, is new to outsiders and proved popular with listeners, young and old.

Mrs. M. G. Davies, who introduced the idea, said the children liked to sing them and people liked to hear them.

The modern carols sung were "The Baby Boy", "Bambino" and "Mary's Boy Child" and the soloist and guitarist was 13 year old Susan Griffiths. Susan has been learning the guitar since the age of eight. The cornet was played by Graham Shone.

The choir of about 45 boys and girls sang carols in English and Welsh. Their singing of "Silent Night" was most impressive. Susan Garston and Jennifer Jones (two ex-pupils) sang duets, and Jennifer Connah and Christopher Bridgewood narrated poems. Hilary Owen sang a solo "The Little Road to Bethlehem".

After the carols pupils presented Elizabeth A. McFadden's one-act play "Why the Chimes Rang".

A feature of the impressive performance was the elaborate scenery arrangements. Colour slides of local Church windows were projected on to the background and produced a setting of magnificent colour where normal methods of painted background could not have approached its quality. It was arranged by Mr. J. Vernon Hughes (art master) and Mr. D. G. Evans (woodwork master).

James Shone played the part of Holger, a peasant boy, and Terry Duke played his lively younger brother, Steen. Clive Millington took the role of Bertel the uncle of the young boys. Other parts were well played by Sandra Lockwood, Frances Berry, Sylvia Lee, Jennifer Connah, Valerie Hughes, Hilary Eaton, Wenda Pickering, Cheryl Griffiths, Margaret Roden, John Darbyshire, George Evans, Melvyn Tomlinson, Jeffrey Jestin, Bernard G. Jones, John Baldini, Ian Hughes, Graham Comley, Malcolm Johnson, David Edwards and Charles Williams.

The producer was Miss B. M. Barker: lighting was arranged by Mr. K. Darlington and Mr. W. E. Hughes; Costumes by Mrs. E. Tombs, and make up by Mrs. Ann Conway and Miss Judith Fry.

Author: Anon

Programme for the Elfed School's Production of Christmas Music and Drama Produced by Beatrice Barker, including a one act play 'Why the Chimes Rang'"

Elfed High School, Mill Lane, Buckley

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