Hoby Entertains Again: Curtain’s up – 100 years later

100 years ago, local villagers in Hoby organised a night of Light-hearted entertainments to raise funds for the Lord Mayor of Leicester’s £100,000 Fund created to assist physically and mentally injured returning troops. The Hoby & District Local History Society is re-creating that specific evening with a range of amusing entertainments, information of the period and two comic playlets that were performed in 1917 and recently re-discovered by society members on Friday September 22nd and Saturday September 23rd, 7.30pm, Hoby Village Hall (LE14 3DT). 
The 1917 event was reported as follows: “Entertainment – with the objective of supporting the Mayor of Leicester’s £100,000 fund, an entertainment organised by Mr & Mrs Taylor (Rotherby) & Mrs James (Hoby) was given in the school room on Saturday evening. Mr Edwin James presided over a crowded audience and the efforts of the performers met with enthusiastic recognition. The vocalists were Miss Seddon and Miss Sharman. A couple of playlets, ‘ Mechanical Jane’ and ‘A Pretty Bequest’ were given by Miss Sheffield, Miss James and Messers RL and GJ Taylor, Mrs EB Bailey and Miss Wykes acting as accompanists. The amateur dramatics, and notably Miss Sheffield showed notable ability and a desire has been expressed that the plays may be repeated in the neighbourhood for the same worthy object.”
So, 100 years late, the Hoby & District History Society is doing just that on two evenings in September.
With the support from The Heritage Lottery Fund, the Society isre-enacting that entertainment. A full programme will have musical songs of the period, a very amusing comic recitation by WS Gilbert and a new staging of the original two short playlets re-discovered by the Society: one about two confirmed bachelor brothers doing their best to avoid marriage to a young heiress; the other about two women trying to cope with a robotic domestic helper, this could have been written today!
This event will recreate the community spirit that the Parish had when trying to find some respite in the midst of traumatic times. Donations received on the evening will go to the military charities supporting injured personnel today.
All are welcome to what will be funny enlightening evenings: dress up [optional] in period dress and enjoy the evening. A bar with refreshments will be available. Entry is free but bookings need to be made in advance by phoning 01664 434 482 or 01664 434 422 or email secretary@hobyanddistricthistory.co.uk.
The Hoby & District Local History Society is a voluntary organisation. The Society brings together people from all walks of life who are interested in the local history of the Leicestershire villages of Hoby, Rotherby, Ragdale and Brooksby and the District around them.
The society was founded in 2013.