SOCIETIES

26 October, 2011 SOCIETIES

Tetbury Families

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	TETBURY HISTRIONIC SOCIETY

	Tetbury had a flourishing Histrionic Society of which Dr T.Warburton Walker was for many years the moving spirit, followed by Mr A.H.Lewis. It put on performances in 1875 and 1876 at the White Hart Assembly Rooms. In 1875 the Grand Entertainment was for the benefit of Tetbury Horticultural Society. It starred: Miss Eliza Rudd [from Theatre Royal Bristol] Mr E.B. Gardiner Mr A E Drinkwater [from the Bristol Elocution & Debating Society] The following items were billed to be performed at 8.00 Hamlet [2 scenes Act 1 scenes 4 & 5 - the Ghost scene, and Act 4 scene 1 - the Gravediggers scene] and starred Mr A W Buckeridge, Mr E.B.Gardiner, Mr A Livermore, Mr H Brown and Mr A.E.Drinkwater Recitation of the Charge of the Light Brigade by Mr Gardiner, a reading from Tennyson by Mr Drinkwater, and a song 'Thou art so near' performed by Mr Gardener At 9.00 a fashionable Commedietta adapted from the French by Thomas Haynes Bailey 'The Spitalfields Weaver' starring Mr A Livermore, Mr E.B.Gardener, Miss Eliza Rudd, Mr A.W.Buckeridge and Mr H Brown. 'An efficient string band' had been engaged. Seat prices ranged from 2s6d down to 6d. Carriages could be ordered for 10 and a plan of the room [for seating] could be seen at Hill's Library, where tickets could also be purchased.

On 18 April 1876 an Easter entertainment was performed starring

Madlle Marie Dos-Santos [from Theatre Royal Bath]
Mr E.B.Gardiner [president of Bristol Elocution & Debating Society]
Mr Albert Clarke

The following items were billed as can be seen from the poster [right, reproduced with kind permission of Wiltshire Country Archives]

A song 'the White Squall' performed by Mr Albert Clarke, a recitation 'the Death of Marmion' by Mr Gardiner, and 'The May Queen by Madlle Dos-Santos

This was to be followed by a Dickens piece 'Breach of Promise Trial' starring Albert Clarke, Mr A. Livermore, Mr A.W.Buckeridge, Mr Lamb, Mr Clifton, Madlle Dos-Santos, Mr Gardiner, and Mr Withy.
Another song performed by Mr Clarke 'The Village Blacksmith', a recitation by Mr Gardiner ' The Field of Waterloo' and an oration 'An Ethiopian Lecture' [in full character] by Mr Livermore.

Another drama followed, 'Good for nothing' by Buckstone starring the same as above.

The programme was 'unusually full' so would start at 7.45 with doors opening at 7. Carriages could be ordered at 10.15. Price as the previous year but obtained from C.Slocombe bookseller & printer.


	AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY

Tetbury Amateur Dramatic Society performed the following plays:

The Pirates of Penzance; Les Cloches de Corneville; Merrie England; The Emerald Isle; The Lady of Ostend; The Young Person in Pink; Tilly of Bloomsbury; Mr Pim Passes By; Lord Richard in the Pantry; Brown Sugar; Mrs Gorringe’s Necklace; Eliza Comes to Stay and The Passing of the Third Floor Back.

14/5/1910 Cheltenham Chronicle
"The financial result of the performances of "The Pirates of Penzance" which were recently given by the Tetbury Amateur Operatic Society has just been made known. After defraying the cost of new scenery, curtain etc the committee have been able to hand over £9 to the Tetbury Cottage Hospital and a similar sum to the Tetbury Church Institute. No one anticipated such a pleasing result and the committee and all concerned are to be congratulated on achieving so remarkable success."


	1910 performance of “The Pirates of Penzance”



		1914 “The Lady of Ostend”



				1912 “Ye Golden Dolphins”


	TETBURY MUMMERS

	Tetbury Mummers gave their last perfomance in 1938.

TETBURY INSTITUTE

Tetbury Institute was founded in 1855 at a meeting held on 16 February, chaired by Josiah T Paul. The object of the Institute was "the promotion of the moral and intellectual character of it's members, by means of a reading room, a library and lectures."
There were three levels of subscription:
1 - those who pay a guinea annually giving access to the Reading room at all times when open
2 - those who pay half a guinea and have access to the Reading room from 5 - 10pm
3 - all apprentices and mechanics who pay 1s a quarter are admitted from 7 - 10pm
In 1857 the library had 200 volumes and was open every Wednesday from 8-9 for the borrowing of books. At this time there were 22 class 1 subscribers, 19 class 2 and 30 class 3.
The librarian was George Pride and the Reading Room at Samuel Fowles, in Church Street, where the library was also kept. At the end of the financial year in 1856 the income for the institute was just over £45 9s.

[Source: Lee, Alfred T; History of the Town & Parish of Tetbury 1857]

Tetbury Institute Band 1910

BOY SCOUTS

14/5/1910 Cheltenham Chronicle
"It has been agreed upon at Tetbury to try and emulate the example set in other parts of the Cotswolds to raise a troop of Baden-Powell Boy Scouts. An association has been formed with Col. Henry as president, Mr Charles Harding vice president, Mr H.Lisle-Taylor scoutmaster, Mr E.J Dance hon treasurer and Mr Wallace Munday as hon secretary. It is stated that the lads of the town are very enthusiastic about the innovation. I understand that the Tetbury association were anxious to join the Cirencester troop but that the Cirencester officials declined on the ground that they could not undertake the oversight of the Tetbury troop and also that the Tetbury folk did not in previous movements in connection with the establishment of a Church Lads Brigade show continued interest in the lads of the town but allowed it to drop. It looks as thought Tetbury will not receive any encouragement in the Boy Scout movement either from Capt Dugdale or Colonel Bathurst MP, Instructor Parry or other officers until they show marked signs of progress. When this comes about and there appears to be some prospect at present, those who show the cold shoulder now will not receive a warm welcome later on."

The Tetbury Boy Scout troop pictured at the Tetbury Show, above in 1910 where they won first prize for a decorated car, and below in 1914

SOURCES:

Drama in Gloucestershire ( The Cotswold County ) some account of its development from the earliest times till to-day; Theodore Hannam-Clark; 1928

Cheltenham Chronicle & Gloucestershire Graphic

Cheltenham Chronicle

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