Early memories of Settle Orchestra

In 1966 and 1967 I played for Settle Operatic
Society's annual show in the Victoria Hall, along with
Dorothy Wrathall and members of the Frankland
family. Following the 1967 show it was decided to play
together as a group a little more often than just once a
year!

My earliest memory of this group is playing Eine
Kleine Nachtmusik in the Old Court House in Settle and
thinking it was much more difficult, but exciting, than
anything I had played as leader of Settle High
School orchestra.

Following on from that I remember Miss Wrathall
faithfully picking me up from Ingleton, along with
several other young players en route, for which we
were all very grateful, for our weekly journey on Friday
evenings, to play with Settle Orchestra.

Our first official concert was conducted by Michael
Ashcroft, who taught music at Giggleswick School. The
actual concert was a combined effort by Settle
Orchestra, Settle High School orchestra and choir and
a choir from Giggleswick School.

In 1968 I left to begin teacher training in York but
in 1971 I returned to teach in Skipton and so returned
to play with the orchestra. Since then, apart from two
short 'maternity leaves' I have been a regular member
of Settle Orchestra along with Dorothy Wrathall,
Anne Wood and Judith and Davide Johnson who joined in
the early seventies and who are all still very committed
regular members in 2007!

Elizabeth Robertshaw (née Lambert) March 2007