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Matlock & District Amateur Operatic Society, 1930s
People who lived in the Matlocks : Photographs, Postcards, Engravings & Etchings
 
The Arcadians, 1937

Members of the Cast, 1937
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"The Arcadians", an Edwardian musical comedy, was the Society's production in 1937. The above photograph is a of four male members of the chorus. They are, from the left:
Bill(?) Housley, Robert (Bob) Wicks, Eric Beardow and Arthur Tibbs.

The Gondoliers, 1939

Cast members in 1939


Two years later some of the same gentlemen were amongst the cast of Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Gondoliers", which was the last of the twelve productions of the inter War years. Almost all the productions had been held at the Ritz Cinema on Causeway Lane. Above are the gentlemen of the chorus.

Bob Wicks (right and top left above) was to join the Royal Air Force and his grand-daughter was told he was in Coastal Command. He was Killed in Action on 21 July 1941, aged 25. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Runneymede Memorial.

Arthur Tibbs was still performing at the time of the Society's Golden Jubilee in 1957, and also involved as Chairman of both the Management and Casting Committees. He had played principal parts at some time in his operatic career. Eric Beardow was another stalwart of the Society and became Hon. Secretary. He was heavily involved with the Society's post war revival.		  
Robert Wicks, who was to die, aged only 25, in the War

Matlock County School Band Read There is a link between the Society and the school.
The photographer of all three pictures was W. N. Statham of Matlock
Image scans supplied by and Copyright Chris and Keith Beardow and Deborah Elliott (grandaughter of Bob Wicks)from photographs in their family collections and are intended for personal use only.
If you have any further information about the identity of anyone in the photograph we would really appreciate knowing.