Archive #16/65: Cultural highlights through the 1950s

In 1954 the Cultural highlight of the year was the performance of extracts from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance which took place on the final evening of the School year in St Andrew’s Hall, a part of the farewells given to Mr and Mrs Southwell.

The account of this very significant, first Musical Production printed in the 1955 Chronicle reads, “A large group of boys, consisting of nine soloists and forty in the Chorus, under the guidance of Mr Trindall, practised for many months, and on the night they sang in a lusty manner. What they lacked in quality they made up for quantity as the Hall rocked to the lively tunes.

This was followed by Trial by Jury and the Old Lady Shows Her Medals in 1956, The Devil’s Disciple in 1957 and The Yeoman of the Guard in 1959.

In 1957 the College also boasted two Music Clubs – Classical and Jazz – as well as a Choir of thirty voices. A Dance Band was formed, which played at the Social held in Term 2, in the newly painted School Hall. It also provided an interlude at the School Dance, held at the St Andrew’s Church Hall. Every boy attended the Dance and 120 girls from Iona and Woodford House were invited. The Rector’s report states, “dancing continued until 11pm. Statue and elimination dances provided some entertainment in the latter part of the evening – good relations between the three Schools were even more soundly established.”

The Lindisfarne College Pipe Band made its first official appearance in 1954 and by 1955 the Band consisted of four Pipers, led by J McCutheon with two Side Drummers and a Bass Drummer. Boys went off to Linton Camp as part of their training to become Non-Commissioned Officers.

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