Terry pens bookon a golden age

The story about Moon Over Bognor will go nationwide in Terry Kirtland's new book.

Terry's musical in Bognor, staged at the Alexandra Theatre in January 2000 featured slightly naughty saucy seaside McGill-style comic postcard characters as much a part of seaside holiday traditions as deckchairs.

More than 30 amateur and professional artistes appeared in the well-attended show to help raise money for the theatre.

Terry, who lived in Yapton at the time, added: 'Moon Over Bognor played a large part of my early retirement years.

'I still have many friends there who, I know, will be delighted to appear in a special section of my book Old Theatres of the Midlands.'

His research has revealed how life was for varierty artistes who travelled from theatre to theatre perfecting their acts for enthusiastic audiences.

During his journalistic career in the late 1950s and early 1960s, he had the pleasure of seeing many of the old stars at the peak of their careers before television started drawing away the audiences.

He added: 'As I will be 70 next year, it seemed appropriate to go through my vast collection of memorabilia gathered over half a century concerning theatres around the country. I know people will enjoy looking at illustrations of what was, indeed, a golden age of variety entertainment.'

His book is due to be published next February with an introduction by the famous singing trio, the Beverley Sisters.

Old Theatres of the Midlands will be published by Archivistic Publications, The Coach House, Minllyn, Dinas Mawddwy, Powys SY20 9LP priced 10 plus 1.39 p and p. Advance orders will have the purchasers' names included.