The Old Elizabethan Association

Old Elizabethans are a tightly-knit bunch, proud of their school, grateful for the start it gave them in life.

Occasionally they repay the debt owed in an amazing way – the production of a revue which raises money for the Association and school while entertaining a large audience.

The latest, which saw St James turned in to a ‘Shoestring Airlines’ aircraft on a flight around the Channel Islands, was based on the failure of in-flight entertainment. Volunteers in the audience were asked to entertain their fellow ‘passengers’ instead.

Old Elizabethan Association president Jerry Girard has recently retired as a jumbo-jet pilot and the idea for the event was his.

Former Lt-Governor Sir Peter Le Cheminant was invited into the on-stage cockpit as co-pilot while BBC presenter Bruce Parker was the chief purser (or compere) for the night. With this crew at the controls the concert hall and its audience took of for a night of farce and first class entertainment.

Virtually took off, anyway.

Producer Dean Hollingsworth had done a brilliant job with computer graphics and we were treated to a cartoon film showing St James taxiing along the front, sprouting wings and flying over St Peter Port landmarks.

Deputy John Gollop, who had been bundled in to the aircraft’s luggage hold by security staff for disruptive behaviour, was unfortunately dropped from the flight when Sir Peter inadvertently pulled a lever. To the tune of the Dambusters March the film showed John Gollop spinning down like one of Barnes Wallis’s bouncing bombs, hitting the water several times before landing on the Brecqhou castle which blew up to mighty cheers.

Our in-flight fare was not all frippery, however. Violinist Josh de Kooker played a brilliant solo, accompanied by Elizabeth College music master Peter Harris who was pivotal in the evening’s music.

Outstanding was his Fantasia on Carmen Elizabethanum written especially for the event and performed by the College choir augmented by a number of OEs and accompanied on the organ by Andrew Warren. They finished with the Carmen, the College song, the nostalgia of which reduced some in the audience to muffled sniffs.

A major element of these revues (the last of which was in Roger Perrot’s presidency) is the gratifying sight of Guernsey’s finest and best making fools of themselves on stage.
There were several examples: a group of senior advocates formed a choir for the night to perform two Gilbert and Sullivan numbers, a symphony for toy musical instruments was played by several deputies (including Mr Gollop whose aquatic bouncing had clearly affected his ability to hit notes on a triangle) and a dance routine by former presidents John Bridle, Nick Guillemette, Roger Perrot and Captain Girard who left the controls to tread the boards.

The advocates in their robes sang A Jurat’s Lament (modified from A Policeman’s Lot) led by Peter Harwood who looked the part in a purple gown borrowed from one of the Bench before whom he usually stands.

Bailiff Geoff Rowland attempted to conduct the choir adding gravitas to the proceedings.
He was invited to take a seat on stage for their second number in which soloist Jason Morgan played the Bailiff, singing about the delights of the job. They were accompanied by Fiona Le Tissier and Roger Perrot was responsible for cleverly modifying William Gilbert’s words.
It was schoolboy humour at its best and many in the audience complained of pains in their sides from laughing too much.

The Deputies’ Toy Symphony was brilliant too with Brian Gabriel beating a drum, David Grut playing a cuckoo-whistle, Rhoderick Matthews sounding the hooter, and Mark Dorey on the rattle. The act was coordinated by Chris Meinke and non-deputy Nick Brett played nightingale whistle. They were accompanied by the College strings conducted by Paula Maher.

The interval was followed by Richard Keyho and friends - Paul Tongs keyboard and Adie Tostevin on trumpet. This popular jazz trio were joined by Dave Fuller and friends to complete a popular performance.

A Victorian melodrama was performed by college students, demonstrating their far better grasp of worldly affairs than many of the OEs had at their age. Liza Kennedy performed a stunning monologue with great confidence and beautiful timing… a warm up for the highlight act of the evening.

It was started by a gorgeous dancer by the name of Carola (from Germany we were told although there were many in the audience who thought that their schooldays would have been greatly improved by her inclusion among the ranks of the lower sixth).
She was followed (rather bravely considering her appeal) by four presidents of the OEA – Gerry Girard, John Bridle, Nick Guillemette and, in a pale blue pencil-skirt with matching jacket, nylons and high heels, Roger Perrot. They performed three dances and sang Come Fly with Me, They Can’t Take That Away From Me and The Lady is a Tramp. Perrot’s pole-dancing, improvised on the night apparently, was hilarious and the other three dressed as airline pilots caused more than a few tears of laughter. In fairness, the act was slick. A great deal of practice and rehearsing must have gone into the steps and words. Dorothy Langlois must be congratulated on getting such a polished performance from them. Star of the piece had to be Roger Perrot who looked as if he had stepped straight off a Beryl Cook canvas complete with long blonde curls, pouting lips and busty figure. (His legs looked pretty good too, almost on a par with Carola’s according to one slightly envious woman in the audience.)
He flirted with the other three who must have found the subject of their songs and dances to be somewhat distracting. They danced through that and all four were called back for a well-earned encore.

The show ended with another computerised chapter in the flight of St James, this time featuring its landing via a fly-past of Elizabeth College. There were great cheers from the anti-modern-architecture lobby as it took the roof off Guernsey’s new Court House building on final approach.

It is a great honour to be asked “when were you at Elizabeth College”. I normally tell such questioners that my education was in Sheffield where I grew up. I turned down my place as a college border at the age of 11, put off by Billy Bunter stories. There are occasions when I regret the decision. Watching, instead of performing in Girard’s Follies was one of them.

Tim Earl

See pictures of the event

To buy these and other pictures of the event go to www.fitzgeralds.co.gg then follow the links 'Buy photos taken by Fitzgeralds' and then 'Event photography'

Read the President's 'thank you' message to the performers

Read about Fantasia on Carmen Elizabethanum