THE final curtain has come down on music group that has delighted thousands of dales people for the past 20 years.

Despite the efforts of a dedicated band of pensioners, the Music Makers, of Wolsingham, in Weardale, County Durham, has been forced to join the long list of amateur theatre groups that have folded in recent years.

“It’s very, very sad, but we are all getting older and some of us are not in good health,” said retired farmer John Anderson, 79, the group’s longstanding chairman and one of its founder members.

“The only way we could have carried on is if we had been able to attract new, younger members, people in their 30s or 40s.

“But that hasn’t happened over the past few years.”

Only three amateur drama and musical groups – the Phoenix Players, Am-Drams and Stanhope Choral – still exist in Weardale.

They all face an uncertain future.

One bright note has been the strong support and performances of local schoolchildren in Music Makers’ productions over the years.

The Music Makers, who gave their last performance in Stanhope last weekend, was the idea of former teacher Ann Swinbank and two of her friends, Mary Bowes and Sandra Robson.

They contacted local choirs to see if anyone would be interested in taking part in a show.

“I remember it was called Victorian Holiday and it was only meant to be a one-off production,” said 69- year-old Ms Swinbank, who has remained as the Music Makers’ script and music director.

“It all just snowballed from there.

A lot of people didn’t realise how much fun it could be until they actually took part.”

During an emotional last-night party, 67-year-old Paul Waine, from Etherley, a singer with the group, read a poem he had composed as a farewell to the Music Makers, which ended:

Now time has come to leave the stage at last,

And the final curtain is drawn to a close,

The Music Makers’ farewell and its past,

Will linger in thoughts during one’s repose.

Judith Marshall, 69, a long-time producer and soloist with the Music Makers, summed it up: “Sadly, it is the end of an era.

“If we had been able to attract some younger cast members it would have been fantastic. But watch this space, we may be back.”

One legacy is an Aladdin’s Cave of costumes and props stored in three attic rooms in Wolsingham.

“There are literally hundreds of them,” said Marjorie Taylor, 72, who has been responsible for fitting out the casts at every production except for the first.

She added: “The wardrobe includes outfits for monks and cardinals, cowboys and Indians, top hats and coats for Victorian gents, costumes for drag artists and numerous ladies’ oufits, including a magnificent Elizabeth I dress. We would like them to go to a good home, preferably another drama or musical group.”

Any amateur groups interested in the costumes to use in their productions is asked to contact Mrs Taylor on 01388-527209.