Sue Iremonger

DPC AGENDA 17.01.12

DADS’ DOUBLE ACT

(for more photographs click here)

To celebrate its 20th anniversary DADS embarked on an ambitious programme, putting on two plays which together required a total of 14 players, two sets and two directors, each of whom also acted. A large undertaking, but one which was met with memorable success.

The first play, Millie’s Tale, required demanding performances from its whole cast. Jim Edmonds as Eddie, the general factotum at Westways Retirement Home, set the scene as soon as the curtains opened, and punctuated the plot for the audience as the story proceeded. His was a strong delivery and we were left with no doubt with his concern that the late Millie’s rights should be paramount. Jane Uren as the reporter, Lisa, worked wonders in support of him, and her determination that justice should be done never weakened. Joan Fawson played Mrs. Elms, dedicated manager of Westways, who, although she tried to remain cool and businesslike, was at times almost overwhelmed with tenderness and gratitude. Liz Hutcheson and Peter Savell arrived, to claim their inheritance, from America, which as Herbie said ‘is not Outer Mongolia’. Liz and Peter showed Mr. and Mrs. Saunter, Belle and Herbie, as the sad characters that they were, who, having never kept in touch with Millie, had come only to collect their million. She the devoted and forgiving wife, he the shopkeeper desperate to keep his business afloat, and without much consideration for his wife’s feelings. Enter Carol Hunt as Millie’s daughter, Sandra, one of those thousands of children who, even after the Second World War, had been sent out of this country as orphans, to boost the population of Australia. “No history, no baggage, we were the riff-raff that no-one wanted”

Bitter recriminations followed as Sandra revealed her dreadful past, and pent-up feelings erupted in a violent climax. “Is this”, asked Sandra of Mrs. Elms, “What families are?” But could she have been talking of an even closer member of her family and could Herbie have been the person who all of those years ago ‘got her mother into trouble’ and left her to fend all alone?

Pam Edmonds certainly did not opt for an easy topic for her debut as Director and is to be congratulated for her handling of a difficult subject.

The second play, ‘Hidden Meanings’ could not have been more different from the first. Peter Bowers gave an imaginative performance as the Sherlock Holmes fanatic Rodney Carson, dedicated to logical deduction of just about everything: no spontaneous reactions for him. Very much the central character, he had as his Doctor Watson, who was really the chartered accountant, George Humby, played with great style by Ian Charlesworth. Doctor Watson / George ponderously tried to keep pace but without much luck. His dream was to have a turn at being Sherlock.

Their fantasising drove Mrs. Carson to despair- an opportunity to demonstrate a housewife at the end of her tether which Carol Hunt did not miss. Husbands beware!

Judy Jeremy delighted us all with her brilliant cameo of Mrs. Hudson, the maid, and Edna whose woeful supplications for her ’sin’ had the audience in stitches. Mike Farrall was totally convincing as Inspector Jobling, the ultimate copper’s copper. He was as much concerned with keeping his unruly choir under control as solving the case. They were joined on stage, one at a time by the conquests of Mr. Charles Meaning. Firstly his ’anxious’ wife, Moira, we all enjoyed the fun that Pam Edmonds had whilst fishing to find out if her husband had changed his underwear that morning.

She was followed by Glenda and all that can be said about Glenda is -wives lock up your husbands. Susan Bowers played her role to great effect. Lastly in rolled poor Deidre, not so little now, in fact very heavily pregnant. Harriet Thompson was very convincing.

The elusive Charles was revealed to us and subsequently to his wife and each of his mistresses: whose reactions and concerns varied widely , Deidre took one look and went straight into labour.

Peter Savell, the Director, built excitement to a fever pitch with nearly all of the characters claiming to have been responsible for murdering Charles, but this was all changed when Charles, or should we say Roy Iremonger, burst out of the cupboard, his horrible blood-stained corpse lunged across the stage and, slithering down the front of Inspector Jobling, he presented him with a suicide note.

What a triumph of amateur dramatics. Alan Archer and Keith Hunt, who, along with their willing team, designed and built the sets which were changed with remarkable speed and quiet efficiency in the interval, to reveal two completely different worlds. All of the team who worked so hard to build the scenery, and Sue Iremonger, who dressed the stage, are to be congratulated as are all of the back-stage team.

DADS presented the audience with an evening to remember.

John Steel November 2011

Finally, we must thank all of those unnamed back-room people who gave up so much of their time and expertise to make it such a successful production.

DPC AGENDA 06.12.11

Please contact the Parish Clerk,  Irene Marchant (St. Giles, Woods Corner, Dallington, East Sussex TN21 9LA Telephone: 01424 838414 or Email: irene.marchant@btinternet.com) if you have any information to share.

With this in mind David Cleverly, David Wilson and myself along with would-be steeple-keepers from Dallington, Brightling, Hailsham and Northiam went off to  All Saints Church in Hastings to attend a Bell Maintenance Course.  David knows quite a bit already  – I knew nothing, but equipped with a brand new pair of rather fetching overalls I was prepared for anything, even the 50-odd steps up the tower.

It is an awe-inspiring experience entering the belfry (it is said that the word has nothing to do with bells but comes from an old word meaning a wooden siege tower).  The bells are huge and powerful and packed in to a surprisingly small space.  They are made of an alloy called Bell Metal, which is a combination of about 80% copper and 20% tin – both very expensive.

During the course of the morning apart from the inevitable Health and Safety, we heard about all the things that need regular attention in order to keep the bells and the metal or wooden frame that houses them in good condition (a ring of bells will typically involve 1-5 tons of moving metal which apparently counts as “heavy machinery”) – bearings, wheels, stays, sliders, pulleys, gudgeon pins, headstocks, nuts, bolts and ropes to name but a few and of course not forgetting the bells themselves.

Regular jobs include sweeping, greasing, oiling, polishing, rust removal, nut tightening and painting.  Major works, such as re-hanging the bells, is  expected every 50 – 100 years depending on how well they have been maintained.  Routine maintenance isn’t difficult but needs time and many hands to make light work of it. It’s good to know that by doing it the nation’s heritage is being preserved for generations to come – without the bells weddings, christenings, funerals, Sunday services and national celebrations just wouldn’t be the same.

I’ll get my overalls on ….

I arrived at Hailsham Church along with five other hopefuls from various parts of Sussex at 10.00 on Friday morning, all looking to improve our bell ringing skills. My class was one of many, throughout Sussex, for all ranges of abilities, organised efficiently by SCACR (Sussex County Association of Change Ringers). There were more than enough helpers, together with our tutor, Peter Wilkinson. After home-made bacon butties and tea/coffee, we all warmed up with a few rounds and cord changes and then practiced Plain Hunt. The usual procedure was for one student to ring with the tutor’s guidance and with the helpers ringing the other bells. After a morning of practice we all moved on to Southover Church in Lewes after an enjoyable pub lunch, for a similar practice session together with a home-made tea and group photographs.

The next day, we assembled in the morning at Hurstpierpoint Parish Church for more ringing, after bacon butties and tea/coffee. We then moved on to Henfield, where, after a pub lunch, we rang at the Parish Church for our final practice session. This session was especially enjoyable because we could ring the bells without a simulator, (there being very few neighbours to annoy) and because we all had improved since Friday morning.

The students, helpers and tutors from all the courses then met at Hurstpierpoint Village Centre for the traditional tea organised by ladies from SCACR, after which we all went our separate ways. A very enjoyable couple of days and many thanks to all Peter, our tutor, to all the helpers and to SCACR .