1972

April

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The Happiest Days Of Your Life

A Farce in 3 Acts by John Dighton

Produced by Ted Rayner

	Cast
	Dick Tassell (Assistant Master at Hilary Hall)	Michael Mepham
	Rainbow (School Poster & Groundsman)	Del Smith
	Rupert Billings (Senior Assistant Master at Hilary Hall)	Bob Held
	Godfrey Pond (Headmaster of Hilary Hall)	Percy Hodgson
	Miss Evelyn Whitchurch (Principal of St. Swithin's School for Girls)	Dorothy Snowball
	Miss Gossage (Senior Assistant Mistress at St. Swithin's)	Pat Wynn
	Hopcroft (Pupil at Hilary Hall)	Robert Moorey Eddy Prior
	Barbara Cahoun (Pupit at St. Swithin's)	Fiona Perry
	Joyce Harper (Assistant Mistress at St. Swithin's)	Anne Graham
	The Reverend Edward Peck	Jan Skilton
	Mrs. Peck (his Wife)	Joan French
	Edgar Sowter	Bert Moore
	Mrs. Sowter (his Wife)	Lydia Perry

Mick Mepham in 1972 I am grateful to my old friend Mick Mepham for sending me this collection of photographs. In case you're wondering which one is Mick, this is him on the left. And on the right is what he looks like now. He hasn't changed a bit, has he?

Mick was one of three new members making their debut in this play. The programme is not entirely clear, but it seems that Robert Moorey and Eddy Prior shared the role of Hopcroft, while Fiona Perry played the part of the female pupil from St. Swithin's. Evidently the Players had found a way to attract younger members, a problem that dogs many amateur dramatic groups to this day.

The play also marks the arrival of Ted Rayner, producing his first play in Fairlight.

By the way, if you want to see what Mick is getting up to now, check out his website at www.mickmepham.com Back in the seventies, we played in a group together. He stuck at the music while I (many years later) turned to acting. Trust me, it's the best result!

First produced at the Apollo Theatre, London, on March 29th, 1948.

The action takes place in the Master's Common Room at Hilary Hall School for Boys, Hampshire, and begins on the first day of the Summer term, just post WWII. The School has just returned to Hilary Hall following evacuation to alternative premises during the war.