The Thringstone Jollies
Pierrot Concert Party
The Thringstone Jollies, pictured in 1923
(photo supplied by Colin Waterfield; restored by Mark Redfern)
Thringstone House 100 Project (1901 - 2001)
(photo supplied by Colin Waterfield; restored by Mark Redfern)
| Mr Albert Hind (b.1900) of Whitwick and his friend, the late Mr Alf
Underwood, regularly visited the Thringstone Clubhouse as young men back in the
early 1920s, where they enjoyed a game of billiards. At this time the
Steward, Mr Bill Brotherhood, initiated a male voice
choir which Albert and Alf joined. However, Mr Hind explained that this choir
did not last for long: "It didn't catch on. I think I was one of the
instigators - instead of it being a male voice choir, I used to make quips and
suchlike and they packed up! Then, from that, Bert Waterfield, a good tenor at
the time, and Herbert Shelton, the pianist, had the idea of starting a concert
party and picked the good singers from the choir." The concert party was based on the popular "Pierrot" vogue of the day. "When I was young", recalled Mr Hind, "everybody used to know what Pierrots were. 'Catlins Pierrots' used to travel the country; they used to have them at seasides". Albert remembered having seen them once at the Temperance Hall in Derby. "Pierrots wore a white dress with pom-pons. The ladies of the Thringstone Guild were very helpful and made the group's costumes. In return, the party gave the ladies their first concert, free of charge !" One of the concert party members, Bill Leggat, had the idea of naming the group, "The Jollies" after a well-known party of that time, "The Follies". Albert recalled that the group boasted some very talented members. Albert Waterfield was a semi-professional singer, often in demand to sing on such occasions as "Shotfirers' and Deputies' Dinners", and Herbert Shelton was a gifted pianist who was able to fill out football coupons at the same time as playing! Other quality singers among their number included Alec Stinson and Bob Maloney. Bob achieved a measure of fame as a professional footballer for such clubs as Northampton Town and is remembered for having appeared on cigarette cards and (recalled Mr Hind) once in cartoon form in "The News of the World". Under Herbert Shelton's musical directorship, "The Jollies" toured the clubs of the district for about four or five years, from about 1923 onward. Toward the end of its life, Mr Shelton was succeeded by Aubrey Colledge, Organist of Whitwick Parish Church. SNB |
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