HMS Pinafore at Hazel Grove School, July 1968.

“Every year for many years, Mr Perry, our inspirational and idolised music teacher, masterminded a musical production at Hazel Grove to inspire as many children as possible and entertain the youngest children and all the parents. Often it was a Gilbert and Sullivan production, well-rehearsed and executed! Teachers, parents and the fantastic School Caretaker Mr Eames, and children created the scenery and parents (mums) made a lot of the costumes and did the make-up. Minor characters were often “multiplied” to allow as many children as possible to participate! For example the Operetta HMS Pinafore includes a cousin “Hebe” but in 1968 we had Hebe, Phoebe, Thebe, Willbe and Maybe! Mr Perry achieved amazing things with quite ordinary kids and my memories of the music, singing, choir competitions and trying hard to learn to play a recorder (and maracas!) will be with me for life.”

“In the full cast pictures there are too many to name but in the Main Character pictures we have Gaynor Richards as Buttercup and Andrew Roberts as Ralph Rackstraw on the left, and Paula Garn as Josephine and Keith Chandler as the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Porter KCB on the right.”