Lemsford News March 1919 informs us of a play “The Enchanted Rose” performed by St Johns school. We have an image of the cast and a cast list. Recent emails from Ruth & Brian Wordsworth sent an image of the school Stoolball team from 1921 , they were related to a girl called Millie Chapman. This girl was the daughter of Thomas Chapman who is on the list of servicemen who went to war from Lemsford. This reminded me of a play performed in 1919, all the children went through the Great War and some had fathers who served. Details of play below with full cast list. Images above including the 1921Stoolball team(Millie is front row 3rd from the left)

Lemsford News March 1919

School Entertainment – A charming and successful operetta entitled “The Enchanted Rose” was given by the school children on the evenings of February 13th and 14th, to crowded audiences. The three acts of the play were splendidly staged; the gorgeous costumes of the king, queen and princesses were shown to great advantage before the background of soldiers in brilliant uniforms, and the white robed chorus singers; while the dainty fairy queen with her train of sweet little fairies in white, adorned with red roses on their hair and wands, made a realistic fairy scene. The wicked fairy was a vividly picturesque figure in her red and black costumes and the court jester was admirably dressed in green and red to suit his part. Seldom ha a school entertainment so charmed its audiences, and the children are to be congratulated on the perfect rendering of solos and chorus. Not a hitch occurred during the intricate court dances of the chorus, the charming fairy steps of the baby elves, and the elaborate and eccentric antics of the jester. On each occasion the dances brought the house down and at the close of each act there were loud calls for the jester. Mr & Mrs Ladbury are to be heartily congratulated on the success of their work; the former for the training of the children and the latter for the making of the costumes, etc. Many thanks are due to Master Keith Ladbury for the able and sympathetic manner in which he accompanied the whole performance, and for the difficult and charmingly rendered solos he played during the intervals. Mr Harrison deserves our thanks for the part he took in the enjoyable duet with Master K. Ladbury and is to be congratulated on so apt a pupil.

Cast of Enchanted Rose 1919

Arthur Tomlin - King - 14 - Joseph Tomlin - N/A

Jack Kent _ Prince 13 _ George Kent N/A

Jack Cotrell - Lord Chamberlan - 11 - Henry Cottrell Pte Middlesex Regt

Chas Fackenberg Phunny - 11 - Charles Vademar Entered school 1917 *

Eleanor Oughton Queen - 13 - William Oghton - N/A

Evelyn Kent Princess - 15 - George Kent - N/A

Nellie Wilmot - Fairy Queen - 12 - Fred Wilmot - Pte 3rd Herts Regt

Marjorie Batcherlor - Spoilall - 14 - Charles Batcherlor - N/A

Elizabeth Julie Smith - Attendants - 13 - James Smith - N/A

Clare Bryant - Attendants - 13 - John Bryant - N/A

Della Jones - Attendants - 12 - Frank Jones - N/A

Gladys Halsey - Attendants - 13 - John G Hasley - N/A

Suey Bunnage - Attendants - 12 - Edward Bunnage - N/A

Winnie Chapman - Attendants - 12 - Thomas Chapman - Pte Royal Army Veterinary Corps

Ivy Tutton - Chorus - 14 - William Tutton - N/A

May Rosher - Chorus - 14 - George Rosher Sergt - 1st Beds Regt

Idona Simms - Chorus - 11 - Harrry Simms - N/A

Sylvia Eagles - Chorus - 12 - Arthur Eagles Pte - Northamptonshire Regt

Edna Young - Chorus - 10 - Edward Young - N/A

Dorothy Besley - Chorus - 11 - Samuel Besley - N/A

Florence Freeman Chorus 11 Alfred Freeman N/A

Olive Lines - Chorus - 11 - Robert Lines -N/A

Ruby Tutton - Chorus - 12 - William Tutton - N/A

Eva Bunnage - Chorus - 11 - Edward Bunnage - N/A

Eleaner Cowley - Chorus - 13 - Nathaniel Cowley - C.Q.M. Sergt Royal Eng

Dora Springett - Chorus - 14 - Richard Springett - N/A

Bertha Bryant - Fairies - 10 - John Bryant N/A

Doris Welsh - Fairies- 9 - Walter Welsh - N/A

Maggie Crawley - Fairies - 11 - Leonard Crawley - Driver R.F.A

Mary Starr - Fairies - 9 - Earnest G Starr - N/A

Mabel Smith Fairies - 13 - William Smith - N/A

Marian Wilmot - Fairies - 8 - - Fred Wilmot Pte 3rd Herts Regt

Betty Scott - Fairies - 8 - Fred Scott - N/A

Ella Freeman - Fairies - 9 - Alfred Freeman - N/A

Milly Chapman - Fairies - 9 - Thomas Chapman Pte - Royal Army Veterinary Corps