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Hull Savoyards have been raising funds for charity since 1934. Their origins began at the Alexandra Theatre in Hull which was destroyed during the Second World War. Their meeting and performing venue was changed to Hull New Theatre where Hull Savoyards performed until the 1990’s to full houses. The society went through some lean times but a small group of dedicated members have ensured the society has survived.

Since the nineties, membership has increased substantially. In June at the Middleton Hall, Hull and the Floral Hall, Hornsea the Savoyards will perform The Gondoliers. A production which involves 42 members on stage, an orchestra of 23 and a stage crew plus front of house staff numbering around 20.

The Gondoliers was Gilbert & Sullivan's twelfth successful collaboration and encompasses many of the things for which they are famous: comic characters, plot twists, light but pointed social comment, witty dialogue and lyrics, and music to sing to. The main picture is of a 2007 production of the Pirates of Penzance.

Harold Kay is a relative newcomer to the society and is the current 'chair', having been involved for the last six years. He is very keen to promote and extend their activities in general. Harold says one of their mostΜύ successful events involved taking a production to inmates at a local prison.

He says the Savoyards performance was received far better than they expected with many of the inmates saying it was the firstΜύ time they'd seen a performance of opera and were surprised and delighted by what they'd seen and heard.

Harold also explained how members are now giving performances in schools. For the youngsters performers dressed for the part as nursery rhyme characters to perform their rhymes and Harold notes that the children seemed enthralled by the colour and the sound presented. The society has also been asked to perform at funerals.

Jean Ward-Skerrow is a soprano who's performed all over Yorkshire at a number of venues including stately homes with small orchestras toΜύ appreciative crowds. Her association with the Hull Savoyards began in 1957 and pursued her musical career through the years under the guidance ofΜύ Betty Middleton MBE who was teaching music until her early 90s before she passed away just over a year ago.

Jean is an active Honorary ViceΜύ President of the Savoyards and has also worked with the Priory Park Singers for whom she acted as a narrator during a musical event forΜύ Wilberforce 2007. Jean has worked tirelessly to raise thousands of pounds for leukaemia research for which Jean was invited to a gardenΜύparty at Buckingham Palace attended by the Queen in appreciation of her fund raising efforts.

During her interview Jean tells a story involving a trophy she has in her possession. Her father-in-law was awarded a cup for beating an elephant at football at Hull's Fair around 1910. There are no plans to include elephants in future performances by the Hull Savoyards, but they do expect to continue with their fundraising efforts for the likes of the Daisy Appeal for many years to come.