Earlston Entertains!

Take a nostalgic look back over the years 

at the acting and musical talents on show in Earlston

In March 1985 the Young Wives'  Group at the church presented "The Good Old Days".

 

 The Young Mothers'  Group in a show in the 1960's 

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The Scouts and Guides in concert - but when?  Can you put a date to this photograph?

 

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Earlston Amateur Dramatic Club regularly presented plays, 

before bowing out in 1991.  

 

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Earlston Girls' Club, founded by Mrs Ferguson of Carolside,  was active in the village 1920's to 1950's, raising money for charity through  dances, Burns' Suppers, garden fetes,  keep fit nights, and musical and dramatic concerts.  It most notably presented in 1934  an open air pageant depicting scenes from Borders  history.  

  

Here is the chorus  of "Native Girls" from the play  "Simple Simon"  staged in the Corn Exchange in  February 1939 and also performed in Lauder and Melrose.

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 Drama performed by the Women's Guild

 

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 The Auld Earlston Collection  includes a number of photographs of the Clown Band, and there are local press reports of them appearing in the Peace Parade in Galashiels in 1919, at Lauder Masquerade in 1920 and in 1923 at  St. Boswells, Coldstream,  and at the wedding celebrations of Lord Haddington at Mellerstain.  One report refers to it as "this unique organisation". But we know little about the background to the band and its distinctive  clown theme. 

Here at a Cycle Event in Melrose in 1923. 

  

 

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And Finally - one of the oldest photographs in our collection

Earlston Orchestra performing in  the Corn Exchange, c. 1898  

 

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In case you missed - take a look at two earlier posts on the Entertainment theme: 

• Earlston on the Dance Floor 
• Night out at Earlston's Cinema  

Auld Earlston will be pleased to hear from people with programmes, photographs and other memorabilia on Earlston events over the years.

If you wish, we will make a copy  and return them to you.
Contact: Tel. 01896 848240 E-Mail: auldearlston@aol.co.uk

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