BOTMS - the show is over but the comradeship continues

Bexhill Olde Tyme Music Hall Society presented the last of three decades of successful productions in April. But though as a company it is "officially" dead the spirit that was BOTMS is very much alive and kicking.

The spacious garden of Alan and Maureen Francis' Cranston Rise home formed the attractive backdrop for Sunday's gathering, an event so much enjoyed by all that, by popular demand, it is likely to be the first of an annual series.

Marquees provided cover from the breeze as around 60 BOTMS veterans and their guests enjoyed lunch, prepared by the catering arm of local care company SOS.

Bexhill guitar duo Logan provided the tuneful background music for the meal.

Soon the photo albums of past shows were doing the rounds. As they did so the conversation became more and more animated.

Which year was it we did that sketch'¦?

BOTMS' last chairman, Dick Coomber had welcomed the gathering.

But though he had sad news for them with the death the previous day of old friend and colleague Gordon Swift, in true showbiz style, the show went ahead after a round of applause for Gordon following Dick's tribute to the trouper's loyalty and devotion to BOTMS.

Rona Morton's quiz and games helped an afternoon pass with the speed and jollity of the BOTMS concerts of all.

Inevitably, some friends were absent. There was renewed applause as Alan Francis read a letter from his old stage partner, Batt Willshire.

Batt may be recovering from an operation but his wit and his sincerity shone through his letter, recalling that it was the comradeship that BOTMS members shared which bonded the company together and which made membership something special and something to be retained even though the shows, which raised tens of thousands of pounds for local charities are now a memory.