A HOMESPUN evening of reminiscence, with wartime songs and entertainment, was both promised by the Clatford Amateur Dramatic Society, and delivered.

Anderson Antics centres around a cheerful group of stalwarts led by Peggy, the landlady of the Cheshire Cheese pub, played by Alwyn Tucker. With her husband Albert, daughter Sally, Rosy, Doll and Shirley (Cliff Tucker, Kim Mawby, Christine McCann, Marilyn Hillier and Shân Middleton) she knows their courage and resolution will bring victory.

Harriet and Humphrey, Margaret Scard and David Benwell bring a touch of class to the proceedings although Humphrey is later collared by Sgt Corner, Ted Brown, after being revealed as a common tea leaf !

They keep the audience amused with their joyful singing around the piano in the Aldwych Underground station, as the bombs drop outside.

Some lovely harmonies from the ladies and an excellent soliloquy from Shirley.

Ernie, an ARP warden, played by Alan Willens, who wrote the script assisted by his wife Annie, opens and closes the show at the Goodworth Clatford village club.

The Dad’s Army sketch is fun with Captain Mainwaring, David Benwell, blustering around a hole left by an unexploded bomb which turns out to be an innocent drain under repair. Fine performances by Corporal Jones, Bob Houghton, and Private Pike, Nick Bull supported by Chris Upchurch, Peter Smith, Ted Brown and Dave Painter.

Another hilarious scene is where the nurses – Anne Blake, Lynn Brown and Jean Williams – set upon poor Smudger, Chris Upchurch, to lance a boil on his bottom.

Sally, Kim Mawby, provides the love interest with her boyfriend Billy, Geoff Scard, who comes into conflict with Canadian sailor Adam, Nick Bull, when he questions her loyalty.

Turns out she married neither and spent her long life travelling the world with the UN looking after orphaned children and Billy was killed in the war. But years later, when Adam came back to the UK to collect his Arctic Convoy medal, she met him for lunch at the Cheshire Cheese pub to talk about old times.

Jackie Grey