BP News

Gala Night Report

Because of its deadline schedule, last month's newsletter did not carry a full report of the Dad's Army Gala Night to launch of our 25th Anniversary celebrations. The event was a great success and led to a number of comments that we should do that sort of thing more often.

People began arriving shortly after half-past-six and by seven the foyer was already packed. Among the guests was the Queen Mother's nephew, Sir Simon Bowes Lyon, the Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council, Councillor Nigel Brook and his wife Penny and the Vice-Chairman of North Herts District Council, Councillor Allison Ashley with her husband Councillor Derrick Ashley.

Welcoming the guests, our chairman Richard recalled stories of the Queen Mother's visit 25 years ago. He reminded guests how she had retained a close interest in the theatre's progress throughout its early years and had contributed a number of ideas for the Players' show Her Favourite Things, which Richard and Geoff Oxley compiled in 1990 to celebrate Her Majesty's 90th birthday. Richard also outlined some of the Society's plans for forthcoming appeal to raise funds to build the new youth wing.

Sir Simon said Hitchin had held a very special place in the Queen Mother's heart from her childhood days when she was growing up at St Paul's Walden Bury. After cutting the anniversary cake he spent the remainder of the reception chatting to other guests until the curtain went up on Dad's Army. The cake was served to the audience during the interval. For those interested, a video recording of the reception and speeches was made by Gary Oaten and is available on a DVD.

The photographs of past QMT productions are proving extremely popular and will continue to form part of our 25th anniversary display for the rest of the season.