Behind the Scenes in the Theatre was the subject for our November meeting held as usual on the first Thursday evening of the month at St Peter's Social Hall, Spital Road, Maldon.

Mrs Marion Orchard had worked at the Palace Theatre Westcliff for 20 years before it closed down a few years ago. She subsequently after a short break started working for Newpalm Productions at the Civic Theatre Chelmsford going into many details of planning productions, casting, rehearsals, costumes, scenery and of course advertising.

Happily the Palace Theatre has again been reopened by the council but being run in conjunction with the Cliffs at Westcliff by Newpalm Productions. The Palace seats 600 and the Cliffs 1,600 and it is carefully worked out as the type of works that are performed so as to complement each other as each theatre has different needs and audiences.

Roberta Belsom thanked Mrs Orchard for a fascinating evening.

The competition for the evening was for a theatre programme and many were brought along including The Everley Brothers and David Essex but the eventual winner was of Tommy Steele at the London Palladium in 1984 performing Singing in the Rain with co-star Roy Castle which took us all down memory lane.

The next meeting will be on Thursday December 6 when it will be a Christmas party.

ST PETER'S HOSPITAL JUMBLE SALES

The Treasures held their last sale on Saturday November 17. It was a very well-attended sale and we raised more than £400.

June and Elaine would like to thank everyone for all their help and support, and offer a special thank-you to the helpers for the lovely gift of flowers.

We have enjoyed the past 11 years but unfortunately, all good things have to end sometime.

QUIZ NIGHT

A quiz is taking place this Saturday, November 24, at West Maldon Community Centre, from 8pm.

Teams of six-ish can enter, for £2.50 per person. Please bring your own drinks, glasses and nibbles.

There will be a raffle.

INNER WHEEL CLUB OF MALDON

Last Tuesday evening, members of Inner Wheel welcomed district chairman Liz Meddle to Maldon and to the Oakhouse.

Liz joined us for a meal after which she gave a talk about how she was able to join Inner Wheel as a daughter of a Rotarian when the rules changed, and also shared some of her family history.

Liz also spoke about where she thinks Inner Wheel will be in 15 years' time.

The charity she is supporting is the National Dogs Trust and the raffle that evening was won by Angie Howard.

In December, some of the Inner Wheel ladies will be supporting their Rotarian menfolk with the Christmas Sleigh Collection.