THE part played by amateur dramatics in yesteryear Blackburn has come under the spotlight, following an appeal from the drama club.

Members wanted to discover photos, programmes and stories revolving round stalwart Winnie Shaliker, who took another curtain call to celebrate her 98th birthday.

Winnie, along with her sister Theresa Oates, as they were then known, trod the boards in a countless number of plays during their amateur stage career.

She performed with Blackburn Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society, Accrington Amateurs and Blackburn Light Opera Society.

After a Looking Back plea for information, drama club secretary Eric Nolan has now received a large cache of programmes, which highlights some of Winnie’s performances, from Hilda Knagg, of Rishton, whose late father Fred Jones, was once musical director for Blackburn Amateurs and various other companies.

But they have also provided knowledge about amateur dramatics over three decades.

The Philips factory, for instance had its own group of players and four of them were involved in founding Blackburn Drama Club in 1944.

The programmes also show that 1942 to 48, the players, who staged an annual pantomime, usually at The Grand, donated almost £2,000 to local charities, including Blackburn Poor Children’s Club.

Said Eric: “This collection of programmes gives us so much information on societies such as Blackburn Light Operatic and St Edward’s at Darwen.

"We plan to archive much of the material with Lancashire Records Office.”