THE R.S.A. ENTERTAIN

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1947, Page 3

THE R.S.A. ENTERTAIN

SHANNON'S VICTORY SOCIAL People from all parts of tlie district were the guests of the Shanr.on Returned Services Assoeiation on Thursday evening, when a victory social was held in the Druids' Hall. The object was to entertain all those who had assisted the R. S. A. in its work during and after.the war. The entertainment committee was resporsible for a wonderful job in the arranging of the function, and went to considerable trouble to make the evening the success it was. The ea'rly part of the programme was taken up with a concert party from the R. N. Z. A. F. Station, Ohakea, and the members of it proved themselves entertainers of a very high standard. Mr. Andresen, of Foxton, kept the gathering mystified for some time with his clever conjuring tricks. The concert programme opened with a selection by the Ohakea dance band entitled "Go To It". This was followed by a sketch, "Phil and Ralph". Next to entertain was W. O. R. Simpson, Junr., with a cornet solo, "So Deep is the Night". The instrument quartette rendered a selection of Scottish melodies and Ralph Simpson followed with some popular impersoriations. The two Simpsons then presented "Fame ar.d Fortune" as a cornet duet. Mr. F. O. Burtt, the .popular local singer rendered a delightful solo and the Band presened "To Each His Own." Mrs. S. W. Barber, another popular local vocalist, was next to entertain and she was followed by Mr. Andresen with his feats of magic. A short interval followed ard when the programme reeommenced the band presened a novel item, "Blind Man's Talkie." The saxaphone quartette was well rec'eived with a presentation of the popular number, "The Story of a Starry Night." Ralph Simpson again took the stage ard his number, "The Reason Noo I Wear the Kilt." brought many laughs from the audience. Another of the Simpsons presented "Valse Erica" as a delightful saxaphone solo, and he was followed by a humorous sketch in which seven members of the party represented a group of spectatoz's at various sports meetings. The excellent programme was brought to a close with the band presenting a modern version of "Swanee River." Prior to the clearing of the seating and the commencement* of he dance programme, Mr. J. Ritchie, president of the local branch of the. R.S.A., extended thanks to the public for aTendir g and expressed ; the hope that they had enjoyed the I first half of the entertainment, arI ranged as a mark of appreciation ' to all those kind folk who had j helped the branch in its work durI ing the war years. Mr. Ritchie went [on to say that the pareels received \ by the servicemen overseas were I greatly welcomed and eagerly j awaited by the boys. Shannon I people had always made a great I job of their pareels, and they were j the envy of other troops. Mr. j Ritchie stated that now the war was over the Shannon R. S. A. was carrying on the job, and was ser.ding food pareels 'to families of needy ex-servicemen in Britain. Up to the present time the branch had sent two lots' of 44 pareels to Fyfeshire, in Scotland, which was the district adopted by the local branch. Mr. Ritchie then appealed to the public to help the R. S. A. in its work of sending these pareels. In concluding, Mr. Ritchie extended the sincere thanks of his organisation to the public for their help in the past, and to the enter-

tainers who had made the functipp. such a success. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr. R. R. Lind, on behalf of the citzers, extended thanks to the Shannon R.S.A. for its kind gesture in arranging the function and con- j gratulated it on the wonderful show. Mr. Lind said that early in the war a public meeting had been j calle'd to form an entertainment 1 committee to arrar ge farewell function s to our servicemen going overseas. At that meeting the R.S.A. had .offered to take control of those arrangements, and it had made an outstandirg success of them. Later, when the boys were returning home, the association arranged official welcomes. To the R.S.A. and the citizens who had helped it, Mr. Lind extende.d sincere thanks. ■ : Regarding the R.S.A.'S pareels for Britain campaigu, Mr. Lind sald that it was a most worthy cause, and one had to meet people who had been to England to learn just how serious the food position was over there. He quoted a recent case which he, personally, had experienced. He concluded by asking the public to give their wholehearted support to the campaign. The seats were then moved back ard a most enjoyable supper was served by a willing band of helpers, after which the dance programme commenced. The R.N.Z.A.'F. band was very well received and its playing was excellent. The entertainment committee of the R.S.A. is to be congratulated on the most successful evening.