Summerdown Convaslescent Fund
Summerdown Convaslescent Fund is an article published in The Eastbourne Gazette on 11 august 1915.
The event included a performance of "Waterloo", a play originally written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1894.
Summerdown Convaslescent Fund
SOUVENIR CONCERT.
SUMMERDOWN CONVALESCENT FUND.
DRIVES FUND FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS.
In connection with the Convalescent Hospital for Wounded N.C.O.'s and Men in Summerdown-road, Eastbourne, the great event of the week has been the grand souvenir entertainment given by the Camp Comedy Company at Devonshire Park. The performance offered the liveliest satisfaction to those present not only on account of the real good quality of the entertainment, but because it proved that the Commandant is alive to the necessity of counteracting the depression and nervous shock from which many of the men suffer. The Camp Comedy Company have produced an effect which has deeply impressed those who have heard them.
AN ENLIVENING PROGRAMME.
The programme on Friday was as under:—
Piano selection, "Spring Flowers" (Rflm. Potton), Rifleman Potton; ballad, "Father O'Flynn" (Stanford), Private Knight; humorous duet, "Great Scott!" (Harold Montague), Lieutenant Bernard Yonge and Lance-Corporal Leslie C. Gray; character sketch, Lieutenant Armstrong; ballad, Lance-Corporal Sizer; song and dance. "Our Mansion by the Sea" (Clifford and Scott), Privates Hutchinson and Lambert; songs at the piano, Captain O'Carrol; ballad, "Lass o'Mine" (L. Phillips). Private Kowin; concerted number, "The Constant Lover" (H. Finck), Lance-Corporal Gray, Private Hatchinson, Riflemen Doherty and Potton; comic songs, (a) "Silly Dick" (H. Wincott), (b) "Whistling Bowery Boy" (T. W. Thurban), Lance-Corporal Thomas; ballad, "The Song of Hybrias the Cretan" (J. W. Elliott), Private Knight; comedy boxing act, Rifleman Johnny Doherty (featherweight champion of Bloomsbury) and Jimmy Doherty (the champion one-legged boxer of the world); comic duet, "Piccadily" (Hargreaves), Lance-Corporal Thomas and Private Yardley; ragtime selection at the piano, Captain O'Carrol.
Distribution of souvenirs.
Playlet, "Waterloo" (Sir A. Conan Doyle).— Cast: Corporal Gregory Brewster, Lance-corporal Leslie C. Gray; Sergeant McDonald, Lance-corporal T. E. Sizer; Colonel Midwinter, Lieutenant Bernard Yonge; Norah Brewster, Miss Dorothy Boyd. Scene, a room in Brewster's cottage.
At the piano, Rifleman Potton; manager (for the Devonshire Park Co.), Mr. Edgar Allan Brown; stage manager and general manager (for the Convalescent Camp comedy Company), Lance-corporal Leslie C. Gray and Lieutenant E. Green Foley, R.A.M.C.; wigs and costumes by Clarkson, Wardour-street, London; scenery kindly lent by the Devonshire Park Theatre. A souvenir (specially made to order by Bobby & Co. (The Arcade) was presented to everyone taking a 2s. 6d. stall.
All turns were received with unmistakable favour, and the applause was frequent and enthusiastic. The songs at the piano by Captain O'Carrol, R.A.M.C., were to delightful that one was brought to realize that there are to be found some accomplished amateurs in whose voluntary performances for a good cause one finds as much pleasure as in those of professional entertainers. The general arrangements were excellent. Everything had been well arranged and reflected the greatest credit on Lieutenant Foley, R.A.M.C., and Lance-corporal Leslie Gray, who had worked assiduously to make the entertainment a success. Miss Dorothy Boyd was presented — at the close of "Waterloo" — with a handsome bouquet of pink carnations and a souvenir "Boy Blue." About 300 of these souvenirs were distributed in the hall. The dolls are to be obtained, on written application (enclosing postal order for 1s. 6d. — not stamps) from the B.B. Syndicate, 75, Terminus-road.
THE BOY BLUE MASCOT.
Scene at a railway station just before entraining for the holidays. Little girl, seeing other little girls on the platform with their Boy Blue dolls, says:—
- Oh! give me instead of my Teddy Bear,
- The lion's cub in blue,
- In place of my old and worn-out toy,
- A Sergeant Big Boy Blue.
- But if it can't be a Sergeant,
- Come, Mummy, be a pal,
- And make it Tom, little Tom Tommy.
- Or a little Corporal.
- If you'll only do what I ask you,
- Before we go off in the train,
- I'll promise, promise, dear Mummy,
- I'll never be naughty again.
- D. B.
New and artistic drives leaflets and particulars of the mascots and dolls were distributed, and the amount obtained for the Drives Fund was £45. The organizing secretary is full of ideas to keep things going, and efforts are needed, as private subscriptions are falling off. The fund needs, and deserves, all support.
BOARDING HOUSE VISITORS' GOOD EXAMPLE.
On Thursday the visitors at Langnam Boarding House provided a drive (and a tea at Thornwell Tea Gardens) for a number of the convalescents. Other boarding houses might well follow suit.
"THE BROWNIES."
On the same day Mr. P. Carver entertained a party of 520 convalescents to a soecial performance of "The Brownies" at Devonshire Park.
DINNER AT THE ALEXANDRA HOTEL.
On Friday the Camp Comedy Company were entertained at a dinner at the Alexandra Hotel, a well-deserved compliment which was much appreciated. The Organizing Secretary of the Drives took the chair. Mr. Hudson was also present as hon. secretary and treasurer of the Borough Committee. Mr. W. E. Wood is known to be one of the best of caterers, and it afforded him evident pleasure to do his best for such deserving guests.
N.B. — Permitted visitors are shown round the camp by the O.S. Drives at 3.30 p.m. every fine day.
