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The following brief history of the society was written by our current President, Bill Caldwell. In the years following 1945, St Andrew's United Reformed Church became a rapidly growing church with a vibrant community spirit. Apart from worship, it had many organisations designed to meet the social needs of its members and adherents. There were at least two activities for ladies, a men's circle, brownies, guides, cubs and scouts, and a church choir. Apart from worship, however, there was no organisation in which people of both sexes, all ages and varied skills could participate and enjoy. It was this gap that the G&S Society was created to fill. The prime mover in this was Hugh Sykes, a very dynamic church elder, ably supported in his efforts by the then minister, the Reverend Alfred Webb, whose backing was vital in obtaining the approval of the Church Session for such a major development. A meeting was held in the autumn of 1952 to discuss the matter, the outcome being the formation of a Gilbert and Sullivan Society. In March 1953, the first rehearsal of "HMS Pinafore" took place. Over 50 people were involved in that production in one capacity or another, including two instances of husband, wife and daughter joining, several husband and wife teams, one father and daughter, one mother and daughter, two sisters, many who came bringing a friend and many who came on their own. Most of them knew one another through the church connection, with the result that there grew up almost immediately a strong sense of community and an ambience of warmth, friendliness and genuine welcome to any subsequent "recruits", a characteristic that has been prevalent throughout the life of the society. Although a church based society, St Andrew's G&S is, and always has been, open to all who love music making and the companionship it brings. If any reader is sufficiently kindled as to want to be involved with us you will be most welcome.
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