The Old Almondburians' Society

Gilbert & Sullivan productions were an annual feature of school life from 1922 to 1938, initially being organised by Major Hirst and Haydn Sandwell and later by Mrs Sizer and Harry Gledhill. The tradition was revived after the Second World War with productions of The Mikado (1947), The Gondoliers (1948), The Pirates of Penzance (1949) and HMS Pinafore (1953).

This photograph, supplied by Terry Buckley, shows the cast of a production of The Gondoliers around 1925. The teacher on the extreme left is John Baldwin, who went on to become Headmaster in 1945. Third from the left is art master Edward Akroyd, who traditionally looked after the scenery in these productions, and next to him are Robert Burn and Johnny Hopton.

n We are grateful to the eminent Gilbert and Sullivan director and performer Alistair Donkin for identifying the principal characters in this historic production: hover your mouse cursor over the characters to reveal their names. Any information from members of the Old Almondburians ’ Society as to who played these roles will be gratefully received.