THANK YOU to all those who have been in touch to say how much they enjoyed Strictly Musicals, which raised valuable funds for charity. The feedback to the show, organised by Darlington’s Mayor, Charles Johnson, at the Civic Theatre, has been extraordinary, and there is no doubt that Darlington Operatic Society’s star is on the rise.

It was a privilege, as the society’s president, to introduce the show and to be allowed to perform in the chorus of One Day More from Les Miserables.

After the dress rehearsal, the cast gathered to receive final instructions from director Joanne Hand.

My part was pretty inconsequential, but the message to me was nevertheless firm-butfair.

While other, more prominent members of the cast were given instructions about things such as voice projection and dance movement, I was told: “Peter, try not to stand with your hands over your groin as if you’re at a urinal.”

DURING the Strict Musicals interval, I went up to the Civic Theatre bar for a glass of wine with my wife and my mum.

An elderly gentleman put his hand on my arm and said: “I don’t suppose you know who I am.”

I looked into his eyes and, after a few seconds, realised it was Tony Robinson, my inspirational English teacher from St Peter’s School in South Bank, Middlesbrough.

He was the person who sowed the seed by saying when I was 11: “You should be a journalist, son.”

It must be nearly 40 years since I’d last seen him and it made a great night even more special.

ON the subjects of South Bank and musical theatre, I confess to being unaware that the steel community, unattractively labelled Slaggy Island, had its own opera star.

Local lad Pat Mackin has been in touch to tell me about a celebration of the life of Florence Easton who was born in South Bank, Middlesbrough, in 1882. After training at the Royal Academy at the turn of the 20th Century, she went on to become one of then country’s most versatile opera singers and became known as “The Nightingale of South Bank”.

At St Andrew’s Parish Hall, Teesville, on Friday, February 7, Helena Leonard will star in a tribute to Florence, performing her most famous arias. The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets, priced at £5, are available from Brian Walsh (01642-455699) or Pat Mackin (01642-460289).

Who knows, if my meteoric progress continues with Darlington Operatic Society, there may yet be a new Nightingale of South Bank. Or, more likely, a Teesside Turkey.

FINALLY, an anonymous letter arrived last week, suggesting I check Page 5 of the Thomson Local Directory for Middlesbrough.

Under Hospitals, the only listings are for Harrogate District Hospital and York Hospital.

I know times are tough in the NHS, but I could have sworn Middlesbrough still had its own hospital.