QUADS 70th Anniversary Night
Quarndon Amateur Dramatic Society 70th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday 24th September 2011
2011 was a very special year for QUADS as it was 70 years since the founding of Quarndon Musical and Dramatic Society (QMDS) which later became QUADS. We thought that this was cause for a celebration and we held a special Celebration Evening in September to celebrate 70 years of the Society.
As QMDS was founded in 1941 we held a 1940s themed night at our “home” venue, Quarndon Village Hall, from 7pm on Saturday 24th September 2011. In keeping with the theme, the dress code was strictly 1940s costume or black tie. We started the evening with a champagne and canapé reception, after which some of our members performed a scene from The Importance of Being Ernest, the first play ever staged by QMDS and revived by QUADS for our 50th anniversary.
A buffet supper (NOT 1940s food!) provided by a professional caterer was served and we tried our luck at a wartime quiz. After supper, QUADS performed scenes from the stage version of the hilarious wartime comedy ‘Allo ‘Allo. The evening concluded with a musical tribute to the 1940s. There was, of course, also be plenty of time for drinking, chatting and socialising.
QUADS Golden
Jubilee Celebration
QUADS - THE VERY
BEGINNING
There is
nothing unusual about taking one’s dog for a walk but such a commonplace
activity can sometimes be a link in a chain of events which have far
reaching consequences.
It was one
evening in the Autumn of 1941 that a local resident who was about to embark
upon this particular exercise found himself. He had a letter to post.
Arriving at the
postbox he chanced to meet another resident whom he knew. A man full of
enthusiasm for an idea which he and his wife had just been discussing. The
suggestion was that it might be possible to form some sort of musical
society in the village which could be the means of giving pleasure to those
who were musically inclined and also, perhaps, provide occasional concerts
for the entertainment of a wider circle.
The man with
the dog was interested in the proposition and, after a lengthy conversation,
it was decided to consult another resident, Mr. Frederick Lockyear, a
retired schoolmaster who was well-known locally for his choral activities
and, perhaps more particularly, for his association with the promotion of
large scale Christmas concerts given by Derby school children.
No time was
lost and, within a few days, the three men met to discuss the suggestion. Mr
Lockyear promised his support provided that a sufficient number of people
could be found to form a choir.
A public
meeting was held on the 24th October and there was an attendance
of fifteen people which was considered satisfactory.
It transpired
that a number of people (including some who had come to live in Quarndon
because of the war) had previously been members of choral societies in other
parts of the country and the suggested formation of a choir received an
enthusiastic welcome.
It was decided
to arrange a Christmas concert to be held in the Church Hall. If this proved
to be successful steps would be taken to keep the choir together on a more
permanent basis. Rehearsals began immediately under the able conduct of Mr
Lockyear and the concert was held on 23rd December 1941. There was a
large and appreciative audience and as a result of the event the sum of £13.
S.14. 6 was raised and donated to the Quarndon Services Comforts League.
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