One of the highlights of the Christmas season is pantomime and this week we have been looking back to 1986.

The grand pantomime season was under way and Silloth Musical Society was all set to open with that year’s Christmas treat, that splendid children’s favourite, Dick Whittington. The sparkling show got its first presentation in the Silloth Community School.

It had all the traditional elements of a good panto including a principal boy, Dick Whittington, played by a female — on this occasion Kerry Whitehead, accompanied by his faithful cat (Elizabeth Chambers).

There was plenty of humour, music, song and dance and no doubt cries of “he’s behind you” rang around the school hall all leading up to a happy panto ending!