Giant Tea -Denaby Ladies Success – Feast of Harmony (video)

February 1907

Mexborough & Swinton Times, February 9, 1907

A Giant Tea.
Denaby Ladies Successful Effort
A feast of harmony.

The large hall, Denaby Main, presented an animated appearance on Saturday afternoon, when 600 of the district population joined heartily in the spirit of festivity, which overhung everything, materially in helping forward the funds of the Fullerton hospital.

And it was purely a ladies effort, despoiling man, with his unpracticable  suggestions and bungling methods, had no part nor lot in the first annual Fullerton hospital tea and concert.

Hence the vigor and swing with which the whole function was carried out. 500 people were seated at tea in this magnificent large hall, this giant tea, however, was very ably staffed the committee of ladies in whose hands lay the arrangements being as follows: Mesdames H. S. Witty (secretary), Jackson (Treasurer), E Croxall, Mason, Booth, Springthorpe, Coulton, Hulley, J. S. Bridges, and Stones.

The proceedings were graced by the presence of Mrs J. S. H. Fullerton, who motored over from Noblethorpe Hall and presided at one of the tables, subsequently inspecting and approving the hospitality and its arrangements.

The ladies of the committee who presided at the tables were as follows: – Mesdames Fullerton, Twigg, Booth, makin, Richardson, Bridges, Croxall, Carlton, Stones, Jackson, Price, Sykes, Humphries, Fisher (2), Gibbs, Beal, Hutchinson, Berry, Dabbs, Dutton, Brookes, Bellamy, Cocking, Whyte, Mason, Cooper (2), Witty, Singletoon, H. Booth, Thompson, Oates, Hetherington, Morris, Horsfall, Mrs Rose, Richards and Taylor.

Trays were generously given by Mesdames Fullerton, Twigg, Huey, and Chambers; half trays by Mrs Weston, Mrs Wright, Mrs Gibbs, Mrs Kilner, Mrs Percy Baker and Mrs Gibbs.

40 fair young workers also formed a very important part of the staffing arrangements.

In the evening the hall was well filled by people desirous of listening to and admiring a contrasting musical styles.

The Mexborough Orpheus Glee singers and the Denaby Main Merry Minstrels had been announced to contribute to the concert, over which Mr W. H. Chambers presided. The Glee singers occupied the first part of the programme, and acquitted themselves with credit, everyone present must testify, and the performance once more conclusively demonstrated that the cream of the district’s masculine musical talent is comprised in the select semicircle.

Guided by the baton of Mr G. A. Nixon, the singers produced a gloriously harmonious affecting Adam’s “comrades.”

“The Chinese March” (Otto) was of a very different order. The piquant staccato notes giving full scope for artistic rendering, and that the same time presenting countless pitfalls for all but the most skilled exponent.

The Glee singers came through with flying colours and as an encore they rendered a laughing chorus in such a realistic manner as to infect the audience, which was speedily convulsed.

The triumph of the evening was Bishop’s “Majestic Night,” and here the party sang up to the reputation with a vengeance, the inexpressibly sweet harmony being well interpreted, and carrying their audience with it.

The encomiums of the audience were won by a splendidly harmonised setting (for Mr Nixon was responsible) of “ Comin thro’ the rye,” and the humorous glee, “Franklin’s dog” (McKenzie), received splendid justice, the short sharp notes which constitute the sole of the piece being a special feature of the rendering.

The last song was that of Hatton, “The Sailor’s Song.” The Glee singers kept up their standard of musical efficiency throughout and it was evident that the splendid acoustic properties of the spacious hall aided them in their almost perfect rendering.

In the second part the performance of the Merry minstrels who are familiar in the district under Mr T. H. Oldfield, proved themselves very capable exponents. The whole event must be written down a distinct success, thanks to the numerous tradespeople, hotel proprietors and friends of the surrounding district, who kindly assisted the cause by gifts in money and in kind.

Fromm YouTube: