A big raffle draw event raising funds for Sheringham Little Theatre will feature the songs and humour of a Norfolk legend who once lived in the town.
Local ironmongers Blyth and Wright have run the winter-long raffle, which has attracted more than 120 donated prizes, to support the charity-run arts venue.
On Tuesday January 13 the winners will be drawn during a fun evening that sees popular Norfolk entertainer Olly Day mixing his trademark comedy and song, including a tribute to The Singing Postman Allan Smethurst.
Theatre director Debbie Thompson said: “We are so grateful to our neighbours a few doors down Station Road for holding this raffle which will provide much-needed funds to replace our aging, worn and slightly torn cinema screen.
“Our venue is run by a charity trust, and our range of drama, music and cinema as well as theatre maintenance and improvements relies on income other than ticket prices – such as the Hub coffee bar, sponsorship, donations, legacies and community fund-raising.
”We hope people who bought tickets come along to the event to see if they won, but it will be a night of fun with a Norfolk flavour.”
Blyth and Wright has been trading as an ironmongers in the town since 1897 but now has a reputation for being a destination store for china, housewares, kitchenware, and leisure goods too. The business is proud of its Norfolk roots, and callers to its telephone line are greeted with information in the local dialect.
Raffle prizes were donated by the shop’s suppliers, customers, other local businesses and the general public. They range from garden seats and electrical goods to soft toys and a stunning quilt made by Norfolk Knitters and Stitchers.
Other prizes include a basket of dog toys and treats, air fryer, sleeved fleece blanket, wine, whisky, garden chairs, glassware, saucepans, cutlery, crockery, and novelties.
Forty will be drawn on the night with the remainder done in the shop the following day.
Tickets for the raffle draw (January 13 at 7.30pm) are just £5 from www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com or the box office on 01263 822347.
Who was The Singing Postman?
Allan Smethurst was a real-life postman who wrote and sang songs in the Norfolk dialect.
He used to hum them on his rounds, but an audition tape sent to the BBC led to him to record his comical creations in a Lowestoft studio and then be signed by music giants EMI as his career took off.
In 1966 his most famous hit Hew Yew Gotta Loight Boy? Won Smethurst the Ivor Novello Award for best novelty song, and has even appeared on the same Top Of The Pops show as The Rolling Stones.
His other hits included:
- Tha’s A Lot o’ Squit
- A Miss from Diss
- Come Along a Me
- Followin’ the Boinder Round
- Hev the Bottum Dropped Out?
- Dew Yew Father Keep a Dickey?
- Moind Yer Hid Boy
His brief stardom ended in 1970 when Allan left showbiz citing stage fright and arthritic hands but later admitted he had an alcohol problem and was penniless. His final days were spent in a Salvation Army Hostel in Grimsby where he died from a heart attack in December 2000.
