The Rt Hon Sidney Herbert MP (Robert Key MP) performs songs from Harrow School. 20/1/5THE re-creation of a 19th Century Victorian song-and-supper room had Salisbury MP Robert Key quite literally singing for his supper in cap, if not gown.
The charity event Nights of Gladness was held in the banqueting room at Salisbury's Guildhall on Friday.
Proceeds will be divided between the Mayor of Salisbury's appeal for the Trussell Trust and the Studio Theatre building fund.
The evening was the brainchild of music hall enthusiast Kevin Catchpole, who presided as chairman Paddy Green.
Other performers also took on the personae of artistes from the era and members of the audience were invited to dress in period costume.
In keeping with 'authenticity', Mr Catchpole, as chairman, had to make one announcement at the outset.
He told the assembled visitors: "For tonight only, ladies are permitted to the ground floor of the supper room" - a reference to the fact that, circa 1857, the floor of the supper room would have been out of bounds to women.
A former master at Harrow School, Mr Key, as the Right Honourable Sidney Herbert, MP for Salisbury in the 1850s, sang three songs from the Harrow songbook.
Other performers included boy trebles and members of St Thomas's Church choir, members of Salisbury Amateur Operatic Society and Studio Theatre.
Chairman Paddy Green (Kevin Catchpole) holds forth. 20/1/5
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