IN July 1954 thousands of locals gathered in Worsbrough Park for a festival of music.

Spread over six days, from July 5 to 10, CISWO’S (North Eastern Division No 5 Area) Amateur Operatic Society entertained the audiences to performances of the popular musical, ‘The Desert Song’. It took place in the park’s open-air theatre and had a cast of over 200. A programme of the show has recently come to light among the possessions of a former Worsbrough resident.

Trevor Pickup, who has loaned it to Memories, will donate it to Worsbrough Local History Society. The story of ‘The Desert Song’ opens in the Riff Mountains and tells of a young French officer, Pierre Birabeau (known as the Red Shadow), who becomes the leader of a band of Riffs on a mission to set right an injustice.

The Red Shadow was played by John C Stanley and other leading roles by: Jack Lindsey, Willis Badger, Henry Watkins, Arthur P Parish, Jean Ferris, Harold Jones, Marian Heathcote, Cyril Noble, Gordon D Hague, David Speight, Sheila Willis, Molly Leavesley, Sylvia Hulley, Tom Marsh, Molly Enright, Jack Jones. Produced by E Kershaw, the musical director was J E Hornsby and the ballet mistress was Miss Phyl Beard.

The orchestra of 35 players was under the direction of Mr Hornsby. Leader was Harry Dunstan. Dancing girls were: Ina Bradley, Irene Briggs, Sylvia Clegg, Patricia Edwards, Helen Hague, Jean Hargreaves, Margot Henley, Carol Hudson, Jean Littledyke, Glenis Littledyke, Rita Morley, Audrey Nixon, Margaret Ridley, Molly Rollinson, Patricia Rose, Brenda Schofield, Elaine Thompson, Katie Waller, Patricia Watkins, Joan Wike.

Ladies of the chorus: S Atkinson, B Burgin, N Crossland, H Greaves, N Hirst, N Patchett, H Parry, L Probert, L Sanderson, M Williamson, H Windrow. Sheila Cook, Shirley Dalton, Beryl Farrar, Marian Faunt, Brenda Foster, Janet Goddard, Maureen Matthewman, Dorothy Ogden, Paricia Parish, Betty Riddlestone, Molly Starkey, Margaret Wilkinson, Rachael Willis.

Gentlemen of the chorus: W Arno, W J Amstead, M Ayland, G N Booker, W Bottomley, K Burkinshaw, W J Chandler, C Edwards, T Faunt, J W Goddard, C E Hague, G D Hague, R Hartley, C Hartley, B Hathaway, E Hattersley, J Hewitt, S Hewitt, J Johnson, J Kellett, E Kilburn, B Moodycliffe, L Sanderson, E Speight, D Stevenson, B Swift, H Tasker, R Thompson, H Thompson, C R Warby, W A Wike, T Windrow, D Winterton. Ali-Ben-Ali’s servants: E O Baxter, W Beard, G R Haigh, R Littledyke.

Do any of our readers recognise any of the above names? Information to Kath Parkin, Barnsley Chronicle Editorial Department.