ON Saturday night I had the privilege of attending a performance of "Hot Mikado" presented by All Saints (Elton) Amateur Operatic Society .

As readers may know, it is my idea to present the best of our town to the Americans in the year 2000 through the Woodbury Millennium exchange project. This will involve a number of organisations and individuals visiting Woodbury, in New Jersey, the town founded by former Tottington Quaker Henry Wood in the late 17th century.

But if ever there was a group of young Bury people who deserve to display their talents in Woodbury next summer then it is the cast of "Hot Mikado". This is a show not just fit for Woodbury but for Broadway itself.

The more I see of our town and its young people, the prouder it makes me. We are going to America, flying the flag for Bury in the year 2000 and these brilliant young people from All Saints should be there with us - if only someone could make that possible!.

We can all call the youths of today, but just go and see these youngsters next time they perform - it might just change your mind!

M. MAGNALL, MBE

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.