Pantomime preparations

THE Hyndburn Pathfinders theatre group preparing for their 1978 pantomime production feature in Looking Back this week.

Members spent weeks over the Christmas and new year sewing 125 costumes for ‘Babes in the Wood’ in which there were the usual dancers, chorus and principals.

They had to make goblins, fairies, a costume for the Sheriff of Nottingham and their ingenuity was also taxed by the job of making Muppet costumes.

The picture (top left) shows the troupe rehearsing and from the left are Adrienne Pickup, Penny Burgoyne, Gary Worthy, Margaret Boyle, Graham Robinson, Alison Worthy and Lorna Slinger.

Our next photo (top right) shows Sharon Johnson, who was crowned the new Sunday School Queen at Rishton Methodist Church by retiring Queen Julie Harris.

Sharon, 11, was supported by attendants Helen Kitchen, nine and Charlotte Holmes, 10 with five-year-old Jonathan Heap acting as page boy.

A call from the Rishton Ratepayers’ and Tenants’ Group for a special bus service to Hyndburn Sports Centre was backed up by the Rishton Labour Group.

Pictured (right) at the meeting of the Labour Group at Cliff Street were (front seated) Brian Perry, Mary Wright, Harry Peel and Councillor Alan Critchlow with other members and officials.

Our bottom right photo is of Brian Green and Peter Cavanagh, members of the Pendle Fencers, featured in the Observer after moving their headquarters from Hyndburn Sports Centre to Sydney Street Methodist School in Clayton-le-Moors in the late 1970s.

The coach was Bill Green who for 35 years was one of the country’s top instructors.

Our final photo this week was taken when Great Harwood Parish Scout Troop reformed after folding up in the early 1970s.

The annual general meeting of the Harwood Scout Group heard that volunteers had stepped forward to organise the Scouts.

Pictured (bottom left) are chairman Mr R Lambert, ex-secretary Mrs O Whitehurst, Scout leader Mr K Yates, treasurer Mr N Thomas and Cub leader Kevin Penberthy.