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THIS IS FINDON — www.findonvillage.com created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
A SCRAWNY RUBBER CHICKEN, A BLUNDERBUSS AND A CAKE
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Copyright Valerie Martin 2002.
There are many strange little crimes connected with Findon. They are all little stories that make up the rich pattern of village life. For instance, just over a hundred years ago in November 1903 a lady (name unknown) was ordered to pay compensation after a boy claimed she had beaten him with a stick in Findon. I cannot help but wonder what she thought he had done to deserve the treatment!
Do you recognize School Hill? This shows the Cissbury Players publicity stunt on School Hill in readiness for a performance in the Village Hall back in 1986.... just two years after the forming of the company (following the demise of the local Goring Players).
Well over fifty performances have taken place to date and there are usually three per year carried out by the twenty active members. Cost productions are around £750; more for period pieces with larger casts.
The rehearsals are conducted in the Youth Club behind the Village Hall and the scenery is stacked in a hut behind the Hall.
In 1955 one of the productions was “Baa-Baa Black
Sheep”. 1955. The cast included Robert Willis, Jean Thompson, Jock Reid,
Joan Sutherland, Sam Fawcett, Fred Budd, Arthur Francis, George and Zoe Goddard,
Barbara Smith, Barbara Coleman, John Spiers, Helen Howard, Mary Mustchin and
Lawrie May's father, Ernest. Lawrie thinks it was a wonderful piece
of mis-casting, as he was the 3rd Earl of Tuckleford.
The stage Electrician was Jack Kennet. He and Robert Willis
experimented with explosives to try and create the effect of a water boiler
blowing up for one production. Apparently they were dissatisfied with their
first two attempts as the sound could not be heard at the back of the hall .
They substantially increased the quantity of explosive for the first night.
The result was so loud that it apparently nearly
brought the Village Hall down, set all the Findon dogs off barking......and
caused some of the audience in the front row temporary deafness. I
wonder what Health and Safety would say about that today.
Unfortunately, the Hall at one time was notorious
for its rather uncomfortable seating . It was not uncommon to see the audience arriving down the High
Street and carrying their own comfy cushions under their arms for the evening's entertainment!
A greater worry for the Players in recent years has been the increasing vandalism in Findon. The Village Hall has suffered a series of smashed windows. It was a particularly bad evening in 2002 when, upon arrival for the first night, it was found that thieves had broke into the Hall and made off with many of the vital props and costumes. The show must go on though — and went off as usual that night.
The police were summoned on this occasion and were immediately on the look-out for a scrawny rubber chicken, a blunderbuss and a cake — missing props on the night.
Continue if you would like to read about Fugitives Find Findon Hideaway.
THIS IS FINDON — was launched in January 1999 and will grow to be a historical record of life in Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com |
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