THE house lights went down, but the audience were still noisy and restless, until impresario Keith Rawlinson shouted for them to be quiet.

Then the curtain went up on a particular Burnley show, in 1965.

Thankfully, the 30 paying customers did settle down, and laughter showed they were getting their six penny worth!

Five puppets, including favourites Sooty and Sweep, free sweets, and a bit of dancing proved a good afternoon’s entertainment.

In the corner of his living room, in Reynolds Street, 13-year-old Keith and his assistants worked the puppets, threw toffees, and called the dances – and all for a good cause.

For Keith and his pals were raising money for the mayor’s kidney machine fund and had already collected £5 from a jumble sale.

He was hoping the box office 6ds for their latest idea would add a further 15s.