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Documents: Alan MORTON

 

Programme for the AAS 1953 Christmas Concert

 

 

“Whilst sorting through some old papers I came across a tattered old sheet of A4 with almost obliterated typing on both sides. Thinking it was part of the Dead Sea Scrolls I examined it further and guess what? It was the programme for the Christmas Concert held in the Camp Hall in December 1953. Pity I didn't find it before this year's reunion. However, it was such poor quality it wouldn't scan into my PC so I painstakingly copied it as it is, warts and all.

 

Some old names leapt at me from the sheet - Till, Loftus, Jackman, Tidey, Fleetwood, Burmese boys, Barnes, Deputron, Brown (must be PFC!), Clucas, Barwick, Mills, Hayhurst, Lenihan, Stubberfield and Lane. You will remember more. I remember being Apprentice CSM of HQ Company and Corporal of Horse Donkey Wilcox telling me to search the Company for talent and get some acts together. This we did and it was fantastic!! One guy who stands out in my memory was Jazz Lane, a terrific piano player. I didn't meet him again until I took an R.O.’s job in S.E.E. (as it was) in 1992 and Bernie Lane was the key man in the P.R.I. Office at Arborfield. On passing out from AAS he went into the Sappers and came out a Major. We became good friends in the 90s and I understand he still lives in Wokingham.”

[Alan MORTON]

 

 

 

 

Army Apprentices School, Arborfield

 

“Christmas Concert”

 

Wednesday 16th December 1953 at 7.45pm

 

 

“A” Coy presents:

“MERRIE ENGLAND”

 

Mrs Archer --------------- A/T Lewis.             Dan Archer --------------------- A/T Till

Richard (their Chief Serf) --------------------- A/T Loftus                   

Other Serfs ----------------------------------- A/Ts Paton,. Plant, Peacock, Pugh & Tidey.

A Royal messenger---------------------------- A/T Jackman

Merlin  Monroe (A Wizard) ------------------- A/Sgt Fleetwood.

Charles Filth (His assistant) ------------------- A/T Sambrook.

Members of Strodling Players ---------------- A/Ts Thompson, Pratt, Butler, Webb & Gibson.

Sir Edmond Hilary --------------------------- A/T Russell.

Tensing (The Sherpa) ------------------------ A/T Tha-Win.

Kiwi-Dark-Tan ------------------------------ A/T Tin Ohn.

(written & produced by S/SI Fincham & S/SI Havicon)

 

“C” Coy ENTERTAINMENT

The scene is set at a US Base on a South Pacific Island.

 

Announcer --------------------------------------------- A/T Bennett

Top Sgt. Schiaparelli ----------------------------------- A/Cpl Barnes.

Medical Combat Team --------------------------------- A/Ts Holmes & Newton.

The Skeleton ------------------------------------------- A/T Deputron.

Colonel: US Army -------------------------------------- A/Cpl Giles

2nd Lieut: British Army ---------------------------------- A/T Jackson.

L/Cpl: British Army ------------------------------------- A/T Royle.

Harmonica Players ------------------------------------- A/Ts Morey, Oates & Henry.

Cpl: US Army ----------------------------------------- A/T Brown.

G.Is: US Army ------------------------- A/Ts Wilson, Bennett, Eales, Smith, McLeod & Sinclair.

Bathing Belles ---- A/Cpl Clucas, A/Ts Goldie, Neil, Lagden, Deighton, Potter, Kidd & Barwick.

Stage Manager ----------------------------------------- A/T Bennett.

Stage Hands ------------------------------------------- A/Ts Smith & Stewart.

 

“B” Company

Presents

“THREAD O’ SCARLETT”

A Play in One Act

By J. J. Bell.

Characters

 

Migsworth -------------------------------------------------------------- Vitel.

Smith ------------------------------------------------------------------- Harding.

Butters ------------------------------------------------------------------ Mills.

Landlord of the Inn ------------------------------------------------------ Mills.

Breen, an odd job man -------------------------------------------------- Hayhurst.

A Traveller -------------------------------------------------------------- Johnson.

 

Produced by ------------------------------------------------------------ D. Bagley & J.B.Smith.

Stage Manager ---------------------------------------------------------- D.Furlong.

Lighting ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hawes & adams.

Make-up ---------------------------------------------------------------- Hyde.

Sound Effects ----------------------------------------------------------- Clark & McClachlan

 

Scene:  Smoke room of a small village inn. An evening in February, about 20 minutes from closing time. The villagers are discussing the fate of one Jacob Forge, their neighbour, who has been hanged for the brutal murder of Farmer Jukes.

Time: When hangings were a public spectacle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“THE HQ COMPANY SHOW”

 

1.      “ZING ZING” ------------------------- CHORUS

 

2.      “WHEN DAY IS DONE” ------------- A/SGT LENIHAN & A/CPL STUBBERFIELD

 

3.      “SWING NUMBERS” ---------------- A/T LANE AT THE PIANO

 

4.       “TWO FRONT TEETH” ------------- A/T BERRIMAN WITH A/T O’DELL ON PIANO

 

5.       “HIGHLAND DANCE” -------------- A/T DAVIES

 

6.       “ANSWER ME” and “I BELIEVE” --- A/T JOHNSON WITH A/T O’DELL ON PIANO

 

7.       “COCONUTS” ------------------------ FULL CHORUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Touch of Humour

 

 

 

 

ARMY APPRENTICES SCHOOL, ARBORFIELD.

INTERNAL MEMOS-CIRCA 1951/2

 

 

To: Chief Instructor

From: Commandant

On Thursday evening at approx 1800 hrs, Halley’s Comet will be visible in this area, an event which only occurs every 76 years. Please have the soldiers assemble in the area outside this building and I will explain this rare phenomenon to them. In case of rain we will not be able to see anything, so assemble the soldiers in the canteen and I will show them a film of it.

 

 

To: Adjutant

From: Chief Instructor

By order of the Commandant, on Thursday at 1800 hrs Halley’s Comet will appear above the area outside this building. It it rains, please assemble the soldiers and proceed to the canteen where this rare phenomenon will take place, something which occurs only every 76 years.

 

 

To: Coy Commanders

From: Adjutant

By order of the Commandant, at 1800 hrs on Thursday the phenomenal Halley’s Comet will appear in the canteen. In case of rain in the area outside the building, the Commandant will give another order, something which occurs only once every 76 years.

 

 

To: Coy C.S.M.s

From: Coy Commanders

On Thursday at 1800 hrs, the Commandant will appear in the canteen with Halley’s Comet, something which happens every 76 years but only if it rains. The Commandant will order the Comet into the area outside the building.

 

 

To: Platoon Sergeants

From: Coy C.S.M.s

When it rains on Thursday at 1800 hrs, the phenomenal 76 years old Bill Haley, accompanied by the Commandant, will drive his Comet through the area outside the building and into the canteen.