Bletchley Amateur Operatic Society
A local institution
Late 1952 or early 1953, Ron Staniford approached some people to see if they would support the Council if it called an open meeting for persons interested in forming an operatic society in Bletchley. That meeting in March 1953 was followed by an inaugural meeting of the society in July when the first officers were elected.
Songs and opera extracts were performed in the local Coronation celebrations and the first production, LilacTime, followed in May 1954. Significant names from those early days include Donald Watt, Ray Holdom, Ruth Bowden, Brenda Richardson and Ron Waite. The society relied heavily on Bletchco Players at that time, whose members helped with training principals in stage craft as well as taking part themselves.
At least one production followed every year since – usually one musical show in May and a pantomime in the festive season. South Pacific, Carousel, My Fair Lady and The Sound Of Music were among those receiving extensive reviews in the local press. In 1971 the society changed its name from ‘Bletchley’ to ‘Milton Keynes’ and embraced the fledgling city, continuing to entertain local audiences and develop performing talent to the present day.
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I so loved going to see these shows. I was with the St John Ambulance Cadets and we would go on cloakroom duty.
Mr Guntrip would do the catering and our old school care taker MR Kay was in some of the productions. I remember him as a Mountie in Rose Marie. My little sister was named Rosemary so I used to sing the sone to her for many years.
Rose Marie was the first of my 17 productions with the society. I was in the chorus for that show and have a vague memory of your Mum.
My mum played the title role in Rose Marie in 1961. I have photos. The set and costumes looked great!
In some of those early years I made tea and coffee for rehearsals. I couldn’t sing, but loved to hear them while I made the drinks. My mother also helped by selling programmes at Wilton Hall.
In some of those early years I made tea and coffee for rehearsals. I couldn’t sing, but loved to hear them while I made the drinks. My name in those days was Teresa Saunders. My mother also helped by selling programmes at Wilton Hall.
The Pantomimes didn’t start until 1976 – the first was Babes in the Wood at Wilton Hall which was used as a theatre.
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