Amateur Operatic Society ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

Amateur Operatic Society

Attribution: unknown (The ruin of Free Church in Jamestown)

Introduction

The Chairman of the Strathpeffer Amateur Operatic Society, John M.M. Fleck, in his Foreword to the programme of ‘The Yeoman of the Guard’ (1971) wrote –

The Strathpeffer Amateur Operatic Society began in 1958, and ever since has been delighting audiences with its performances of Gilbert and Sullivan Operas. Its reputation has been achieved by much hard work and co-operation, but three people stand out as those most responsible for its high standards.

Lt. Col. Olaf Macleod, was the Society’s founder and Chairman until 1970. The magnificent costumes and scenery which characterize our productions have been designed, and in many cases made, by him. He has directed the Society’s affairs with great wisdom and energy, and its members fully realise how much they owe him and his wife.

The heavy responsibilities of these twelve years have taken their toll of time and health, and for the time being Colonel and Mrs Macleod are taking a rest from active participation in the Society.

We are fortunate in still having Mr Fred Henson who has been Musical Director from the beginning. His quiet but thorough training of the singers has given great pleasure to both members and audiences. This year he achieves his ambition of having an Orchestra to bring out the beauties of Sullivan’s fine score. Next year for the first time we shall be tackling a non-Gilbert and Sullivan Opera.

If you would like to take part in this production and are not at present a member of the Society, please complete the tear-out portion on page 5 and hand in to the Box Office as you leave the hall.

Attribution: unknown

Elizabeth Burns recalled in January 2002 the following

Col. Olaf Macleod (founder member and Chairman) designed, and, with some assistance, physically made the sets for the G. and S. operas. Being employed by the Hydro Electric he had available large stocks of strong cardboard (the cartons in which cookers, fridges, etc. were packed). He himself painted the back-cloths. He also designed all the costumes for G. & S. and these were made by the company. At the AGMs Olaf would show us a minature set painted in a shoe box with full backcloth and wings and one or two cardboard cutout figures in costume.

After 1970 costumes were designed by Elizabeth Burns, Esther Jones and Ruth Gilvray. Sets were (mainly) by John Crawford.

John Fleck, who produced most of the later Viennese and other operettas, organised the moves he wanted the cast to make, with a supply of pennies and halfpennies, labelled with the letter or number of each chorus member. These he moved about on his table and wrote down the resulting positions for instruction of the chorus.

Attribution: unknown

Productions

1959 The Mikado
1960 HMS Pinafore
1961 The Gondoliers
1962 Iolanthe
1963 Princess Ida
1964 The Yeomen of the Guard
1965 The Mikado
1966 The Gondoliers
1967 Patience
1968 Pirates of Penzance
1969 Iolanthe
1970 Ruddigore
1971 The Yeomen of the Guard
1972 The Merry Widow
1973 The Maid of the Mountains
1974 The Mikado
1975 Die Fledermaus
1976 Gipsy Queen
1977 The Pirates of Penzance
1978 White Horse Inn
1979 Glorious Gilbert and Sullivan
1980 Lilac Time
1981 The Merry Widow
1982 La Vie Parisienne

Attribution: unknown

View photographs from some of the productions

We have received some photographs from some of the productions which we have included in albums on this page. We also have further details of a couple of the productions, so please do visit the pages for more information.

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images

Strathpeffer » Strathpeffer History » Strathpeffer Events » Strathpeffer Heights Heritage Exhibition Sept 2001 » Strathpeffer Heights Heritage Education

Fodderty Primary School Class Photo 1928

Fodderty Primary School. Two class photos, 1928, belonging to Helen Maclennan, Heights of Dochcarty.

Top class - about 1951

Mr Frank Todd, head teacher Fodderty Primary School, with his top class - about 1951.

Fodderty Primary School Class Photo 1928

Fodderty Primary School. Two class photos, 1928, belonging to Helen Maclennan, Heights of Dochcarty.

Fodderty Primary School early 1900s- Mr Duthie and Miss Macintosh

Fodderty Primary School staff.

Fodderty Primary c.1922.

Fodderty Primary c.1922. [Photo courtesy of Highland Museum of Childhood.]] Back row, l-r: Miss Macintosh, teacher; Fanny Macritchie, Mary Macleod, ?, ?, Sybil Chisholm, ?, Polly Chisholm, Mary Mackenzie. 3rd from front l-r: Dolly Finlayson, remainder unknown 2nd from front l-r: ?, ?, ?, ?, Rose Pearson, ?, Mary Watt

Fodderty Primary School 1930.

Fodderty Primary School 1939

Fodderty Primary School 1939. 1. Esther Watson 2. Don Armstrong 3. Paul Smith 4. Kenny Stewart 5. Helen Kennedy 6. Charlie Dempster 7. Philip Murchison 8. Dona McLennan 9. Dorothy Bruce 10. Kenny Jochan 11. James Crombie 12. Billy McPherson 13. Jake Junor 14. Jean Urquhart 15. Sandy 'Storn' Mackenzie. 16. Sheena McKenzie 17. Sybil Sutherland 18. Nora Sutherland 19. Beth Laurance 20. Ishbel Grant 21. Donella Grant.

Fodderty Primary School Garden Pond

Opening of the Fodderty Primary School Garden Pond - see School Log

Willie Junor and Iain Mackenzie with the eagle caught in a trap on Knockfarrel - 1934

Willie Junor and Iain Mackenzie with the eagle caught in a trap on Knockfarrel. Extract from Fodderty PS School Log - 1934 Oct 5: "A lesson was given to the whole school today on the Golden Eagle which was killed on Knockfarrel yesterday."

Winners of Hutchison Cup 2nd June 1951

Fodderty Primary School winners pf Hutchison Cup 2nd June 1951. Back - Neil Macdonald, Raymond MacAllister. Middle - Sandy MacGregor, Hamish Polson. Front - John MacGregor, John Neil MacQuarrie.

Prior to Closing of Side School c1951

This photo was taken prior to the closing of the side school at Heights of Dochcarty about 1951. Children - Jessie Maclennan (Macdonald), Betty Finlay (Toots), Billy Tulloch, Kenny Ross (Mod medallist), Iain Maclennan.

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images

Unknown Productions

While creating this website we found some photos from the Operatic Society which weren’t associated with any production. If anyone knows which production any of these photos belongs to, please contact us and let us know.