THE 1957 production of Pirates of Penzance at Temple Cowley School in Oxford (Memory Lane, April 13) wasn’t the first time the school had staged the operetta.

Reader Florance Chambers, of Broughton Close, Old Marston, has a programme for a similar show in 1950.

Mrs Chambers, whose maiden name was Williams, writes: “When I saw the picture of the 1957 production, it brought back many happy memories.

“I thought the names on the programme will perhaps stir memories. Sadly I have no picture.

“I was playing the violin in the orchestra – my school days were over.

“Temple Cowley School was a wonderful place. I look back on it with fondness.”

Pirates of Penzance was staged in the school hall on three evenings in December, 1950.

The main parts were taken by John Guest, Alan Cox, John Webb, Derek Godfrey, Thomas Saunders, Jean Haugh, Joyce Evans, Ruby Bradford, Pat Beasley and Janice Sturges.

The pirates were Brian Esplin, Peter Evans, Anthony Goodings, Derek Huggins, Roy Jones, Brian Locke, John Lloyd, William Morgan, Kenneth Sheehan, William Tucker and Michael Underwood.

The policemen were William Hetherington, Harold Hinton, Brian Leemans, David McMinn, Kenneth Barton, Brian Murphy, Carl Ringwald, Paul Rutter and Fred Newman.

Twelve girls were chosen to be Major-General Stanley’s daughters – Joyce Yeates, Maureen Packham, Patricia Pitkin, Hazel Watt, Sylvia Williams, Jeanette Williams, Deidre East, Geraldine Jacobson, Christine Farnell, Ruth Wakefield, Doreen Dickenson and Janet Walsh.

The programme ended with a warning to the audience which would be very familiar these days: Please do not smoke during the performance.