Hi Dave, thoughts about that photo.  You will probably remember that the Hospital regularly put on a panto in those days and I was “lucky” enough to be in a few of them.  I think Sue Carr is also in that photo along with John Brough (porter) and Andy Duffin (Eric Duffin’s son).  It was always a great laugh to be in them.  John Harris was usually in them and was always good for a laugh.

The panto’s were directed by a chap called John Vickerstaff who worked in the electricians shop.  He was a lovely bloke who I believe died prematurely a few years ago (I think he was only in his forty’s!).  John’s wife (whose name escapes me) was also regularly in them a long with their son who was just a scrawny lad at the time but is no doubt a big strapping fella now.

During the shows we always used to have a few beers down in the dressing rooms which were below the stage in the “bowels” of the hospital.  We needed it for courage as some nights the hall would have 3 to 4 hundred people in there.  I remember John Harris and John Brough always used to throw sweets to the kids on the front row.  On the last night we always ended up in the staff social club for a bit of a party. Happy times!!!

Dean Burgess