Memories of early days of Lamproom – and the man behind it – rekindled by feature...

DAVID TINGLE, Darton

In a recent edition of the Chronicle there was a piece about John Kelly and the Lamproom. This brought back many memories, some of which I would like to share with you.

I remember the Lamproom when it was a functioning chapel known as Westgate Methodist Church.

When it closed members of the congregation joined my church, Ebenezer Methodist Church on Sheffield Road and Pitt Street Methodist Church, both lovely large imposing buildings now demolished, one because of redevelopment and Pitt Street because of subsidence.

I remember the original Boys’

Club was at the corner of Castleregh Street and Nelson Street and recall when it moved to Westgate.

Serious construction work had taken place with another floor being built with a lovely dance floor.

The upstairs was often rented out and for three weeks a month on Sundays

there was Old Time Dancing led by Mr and Mrs Frostick who lived on Nursery Street (where Milly Johnson grew up).

My wife Sheila and I attended those dances, but on the fourth week there was an opportunity for the ladies to dress up because the dance took place at the Co-op Arcadian Hall in Market Street, a very large area with a beautiful dance floor.

Back at the Boys’ Club, the dances were held next to a stage and when the junior Amateur Operatic Society was formed it gave its first performances there – Gilbert and Sullivan.

It was well supported by Barnsley Council.

The president was Mr Jepson, deputy director of education, and many teachers and people interested in theatre came and gave practical support – make up scenery, wardrobe, front of house etc.

Girls had to leave aged 19, but boys could stay until they were 23, a concession to National Service. Jimmy

Brotten was the producer.

Jimmy was a baker for a small shop at the bottom of Market Hill.

The conductor of the orchestra and also the chorus master was Mr Green, a Barnsley music teacher. When the Boys’ Club closed the society moved to the Globe cinema on New Street.

When the building closed down and then subsequently reopened under John, I had moved down to Berkshire for my job.

However, my wife and I regularly returned to Barnsley to be with our relatives and friends. On rare occasions we visited the building and did a few odd jobs.

On one visit we helped to paint the dressing room doors upstairs a dark green, or as we used to call that type of paint, ‘Aggy Ruad Schuil’ (Agnes Road Nursery and Primary Schools were ALWAYS painted green).

I believe the first time I came across John was when he joined the YMCA Amateur Operatic Society and played Fagin in Oliver. Ann, his wife, also played a principal part. John played Fagin better than Ron Moody.

We performed the production in the recently-opened Civic Hall. It held over 1,000 people and from the middle of the week onwards the theatre was nearly full. The acoustics in the hall were atrocious and the amplification basic.

If you could not act yourself towards one of the three mics stuck up at the front you had to resort to facing forward and throwing your voice like a Victorian actor.

When rehearsing for the production afterwards a group of us would retire to the Royal up Market Hill, but usually the Grey Horse. A pint of beer was less than two shillings in old money.

There John would keep us entertained. At teatime he was a nurse and to supplement his income he sold health products on the side.

We all purchased stuff from him as he was a charmer and a good salesman.

His salesmanship put him in good stead when he was trying to raise money for the Lamproom.

He went to all society events where he could speak. I remember him giving a talk to the Probus Club when almost 100 people were present.

They were very impressed and I am sure he must have received some substantial donations.

John put his money where his mouth was and took a great leap of faith by remortgaging his home to finance the project.

Thankfully, his faith was proved right and there is now a very successful theatre 25 years on that Barnsley is very fortunate this lad made work.

He is an enthusiastic, genuinely talented individual... yuck, but true.

I have not seen John for many years, but I am sure he has not changed and gone posh, maybe just more handsome.