RALPH Duxberry met up with an old friend at Thornton Operatics' version of The Pirates of Penzance - more than 50 years after they took part in the group's original version of the show.

It was way back in Second World War that Ralph, now 82, played the part of the Major-General in the group's show while Margaret Pater was sitting in the orchestra pit, getting to grips with the violin.

This week's performance gave both of them the chance to reminisce about their last performance together, in 1940.

Ralph said: "After we publicised the event, a lady telephoned me and said that she had been in the same show as myself and would like to meet up.

"It was splendid. I didn't recognise her because it was such a long time ago that we'd have seen each other last.

"I introduced her to the musical director and the lead violin in the orchestra.

"It was nice of her to come down and make contact.

"I'm sure we'll keep in touch as she lives in Fleetwood and we use the Marine Hall for our productions."

Margaret played the violin in the 1940 production of the opera.

She added: "I was surprised to find that the group was still going after all these years.

"I saw their show plugged and it started bringing memories back.

"The old Queens Theatre at Cleveleys was more of a theatre than the Marine Hall is - but that's because it is a multi-purpose building.

"I remember at the Queens when the stage door and orchestra pit door were open at the same time, we had to hang on to our music to stop it blowing away in the wind.

"And we used to get threepence travel expenses - which paid for the tram from Blackpool to Fleetwood."

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