FARNHAM U3A Local History Group started the new year with a dramatic walk down memory lane led by two well-known local thespians, director David Wylde and actor Christopher Reeks.

More than 100 people enjoyed pictures and memories about the tiny Castle Theatre, where David directed 14 plays in 14 months in the 1970s and Chris began his acting career, and the wonderful and much-missed Redgrave where David also directed some productions and Chris appeared regularly until his final role there as Mole in Wind in the Willows, Christmas 87-88.

There was much shameless name-dropping from both speakers, a reminder that so many of the ‘greats’ of the theatre world did their stint in weekly rep at the Castle Theatre as well as appearing in starring roles at the Redgrave.

From the Castle days there were Heather Chasen, Gerald Flood, William Gaunt, Josephine Tewson, Alfred Burke, Stephanie Cole and Sue Johnstone to name but a few. The Redgrave days brought Christopher Timothy, Lisa Goddard, Jenny Agutter, Charlotte Cornwall, Anna Wing, Sean Bean, Brian Cant, Susan Jamieson and James Bolan and many more.

Retired Castle and Redgrave actors William Whymper and Laurence Carter were in the audience and added some of their own reminiscences, as did several U3A members who had been volunteers and enthusiastic supporters of the two theatres over the years.

Many outstanding productions were mentioned but the consensus was that David Horlock’s production of Noel Coward’s Cavalcade, which involved so many Farnham people and enjoyed national television coverage, marked the highlight of Farnham’s wonderful theatre years.