| Administrative History | The St Giles Players, an amateur dramatic society, were established in 1935 by Lilian Reeves, wife of the vicar of Longstone. |
| Custodial History | These records were donated to Derbyshire Record Office by Longstone Local History Group in October, 2024. |
| Further Information | 1.Lilian Blore’s baptism record from St Thomas parish church Pendleton, Lancashire and her appearance in the 1901 census with family.
2. Lilian Blore and family in 1911 census and 1921 census. Her father George was a pharmacist and optometrist. Broad Street, Pendleton has been substantially altered and the shop/house does not exist.
3.Her future father-in-law Thomas Reeves appears with his family in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Canada of 1881.He was a farmer. Plus the last census record Thomas Reeves appears in at Medicine Hat , Alberta in 1915.It reveals he was born in Newfoundland. He was married to a Martha Adelaide.
4. Martha Adelaide Reeves gravestone and Thomas Reeves obituary as a resident of Medicine Hat.
5. St Lawrence’s Newfoundland baptism record of Arthur William Reeves born 1884 and registered at St John the Evangelist in Burin. He would eventually marry Lilian Blore.
The next entry for a Arthur William Reeves found on family history websites is his attestation form for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in 1917.
6. Arthur William Reeves War service record of payments and days served,plus service number and rank. According to Canadian Expeditionary forces online database he enlisted in 1916 at Halifax , Nova Scotia, and served in the Canadian Medical Corps in St Martin (Mumeer) Field Hospital in Bologne, France. He obtained the rank of corporal.However he had bouts of poor health which were treated in England and was eventually discharged in Galgary ,Canada in 1919.
Marriage record of Lilian Blore to Arthur William Reeves at St Thomas’ Pendleton in 1922. A little bit of liberty given to Reverend Reeves father’s occupation although he may have been at sea when living in Burin, Newfoundland.
7. Arthur William Reeves – Crockfords 1939 entry- shows his learning journey to become a vicar in Canada and England and whereabouts he was incumbent.
GRO index birth record for Heather A Reeves, registered Salisbury, England September quarter 1927.
8. The Reeves family arrival back to England at Liverpool on the Cunard Line Steam Ship Antonia on 28/09/1931.
The 1939 register entry for The Reeves family and servants at the Vicarage in Great Longstone. Heather’s name is redacted.
9. Extract of news article which tells of the tragic death of Reverend Arthur William Reeves. Dated 24/10/1941.
The headstones of the family plot at St Giles,Great Longstone.
10. Front cover of Lilian Reeves’ scrap book with heather Reeves address sticker. Includes notelet saying ‘ Let’s do a play’ 1912-1960 opposite ‘the book beloved’ Church House , Manchester.
11 Early photograph of Lilian Blore in costume circa 1910’s.
12. Early group photograph from unidentified play set in early Georgian times circa 1910’s.
Lilian Blore and a young man in a fez sat on the steps of a calvary cross adorned with Lilies and greenery, possibly inside St. Thomas’s Pendleton.
13. Photograph of Lilian Reeves as ‘Laura’ in My Man John at Salisbury in 1923.
Undated newspaper column titled ‘Drama and Comedy – High praise for Chesterfield Playgoers at Buxton’. Features mention of the St Giles players Great Longstone ( circa 1935/6.)
14. Scrap of a handmade poster for ‘Captain Applejack by the Academie Comercialle on April 9th 1931’. Possibly one of the last plays Lilian was involved with before returning to England from Bergerville, Canada
Note about ‘My Man John’, by Florence Darwin, April 1923.
Photograph of Lilian as Laura probably the first role she took following her marriage.
15. A handwritten note from Mrs Lilian Reeves explaining the family settled in Quebec in 1927. She had success with the plays ‘Mr Pimm passes by’ and ‘Captain Applejack’, and performed to the Canadian elite. By 1934 the family had returned to England.
16.St Martins’ Players Salisbury programme for ‘The Bathroom Door’ and ‘My Man John’ on 4th April 1923 and the programme for the Little Theatre Players production of ‘Captain Applejack’ April 9th 1931 by The Commerical Academy at Bergerville.
Newspaper clippings from unknown press about the Little Theatre successes in Quebec.
17. Note about productions at All Saints, West Gorton 1932-1934 and photograph of Heather Reeves in medieval costume making her debut.
18. Programme for ‘My Man John’ and also ‘The Rest Cure’ performed on 1,2 and 3/11/1934 at All Saints, Gorton. Includes photographs of the Rest Cure staff and set stage.
19. Photograph of Reverend Arthur William Reeves- the first president of the St Giles Players in 1935.
Great Longstone Garden Party with ‘Outside the White Lion’ players in costume 1935.
20. Cast list from ‘Outside the White Lion’ and photograph of man with long pipe by J.B. Gratton Studio, Ashford , Bakewell.
21. Photographs of ‘ Outside the White Lion.’ St Giles Players Production programmes in Longstone School from 1935 and 1936.
22. St Giles Players Production programmes in Longstone School from 1935 and 1936.
St Giles Players list as appearing at number 42.
23. Lilian Reeves’ set painting of William’s Garden for ‘My Man John’ production. Undated.
Newspaper cutting of ‘Four One Act Plays’ performed by St Giles players. Undated.
Newspaper cutting Amateur Theatre Companies.. Outspoken Comments from L.du Garde Peach.
24. Another set painting by Lilian Reeves. Unidentified play. Undated. Plus rear of scrap book.
25. Photographs and programme from ‘ My Man John’ production in 1936 with cast identified.
26. Photographs from ‘ My Man John’ production in 1936.
27. Lilian Reeves lists her productions over time.
28. Buxton Drama Festival programme from March 30th to April 4th 1936.
29. Article from High Peak News April 4th 1936 – ‘Week of Comedy and Drama. Buxton’s Second Annual Festival’.
30. Medieval pageant photographs. Undated.
31. Photographs of players in costumes with names written on reverse. Undated.
32. 2 x black and white photographs of players in costumes. Includes cast of Bardell and Pickwick outside Longstone Women’s Institute with a cast list.
33. Derbyshire Federation of Womens Institutes Saturday December 5th 1935 Carol and Mime programme.
34. More notes about local productions from Lilian Reeves.
35. Longstone Ladies Choir at the Strawberry Fair, Thornbridge Hall. Late 1930’s.
36. Concert programme held by Longstone Choral Society (conductor Ena Goodwin, at the piano Alice Mottershead ) with a one act play by Lilian Reeves. Dated 30 April 1938.
Also Lilian’s notes about Longstone W.I.and the play ‘Rataplau’ held at the Chesterfield Festival..
37. Programme for St Giles’ players ‘Mr Pym Passes By.’ Dated 24th October 1938.
38. Stills photographs from an unidentified stage production circa 1930’s. 2 x programmes from late 1930’s. One titled ‘ An evening of drama and comedy’ performed by St Giles’ players on May 4th 1939.The other ‘Mirror to Elizabeth’ and ‘There’s no fool’ with cast list. Unidentified date.
39. Programme titled ‘Entertainment, The School Longstone, Dec 28th 1940 in aid of the local Spitfire fund with 18th century prophecy .’- Includes play ‘Everybody’s husband.’
40. Programme of St Giles Players presentation of ‘Four Plays, half proceeds for war weapons week’. Dated April 25th and 26th 1941.
41. Lilians notes of events 1935-1941 at Great Longstone and her husband’s death.
42. Lilian’s notes on various plays and the Nativity of 22,23 December 1959. Includes early colour photograph.
43 and 44. Black and white images of the Nativity Play of 1959 held in the local church.
45. Black and white image featuring cast of an Edwardian play. Also St Giles Players list from the 1950’s.
46. 2 x newspaper cuttings from 1958. One titled Longstone Players ‘ Not in the Book.’ Includes image of cast.
The other is titled ‘Revival of St Giles’ players’ and includes Lilian as producer and Heather her daughter as a cast member. Overleaf are images of Heather Reeves and Ivy Skidmore in a flappers costume.
47. ‘SNAPSHOT’ programme presented by Heather Reeves on Tuesday 14th July 2009 in Great Longstone.
48. Extract titled’ Play it again’. From Under The Edge. January 2010.
49. Article with photographs titled ‘Village Jubilee Celebrations… A Jubilee Pageant by Heather Reeves and a large, technical and artistic team.’ From Under the Edge July 2012. Includes photographs of cast by Frank Parker. Heather Reeves played Queen Victoria.
50. Image of St Giles’ Players from 1960 with names of members. From Under the Edge July 2013.
51.Under the Edge June 2015 front cover featuring image of Lilian Reeves in older age and an article piece titled ‘St Giles’ Players Remembered,’ by Heather Reeves. Heather died in the August of that year.
52. Associated ephemera – Programme of Great Hucklow Players ‘Any old iron’, a play by L. Du Garde Peach. Plus a booklet titled ‘The Village Players Great Hucklow.. The story of a village theatre and the man who made it happen’ by Peter Miles.
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