A Horsforth amateur theatre group scooped five major awards at the International Festival of Musical Theatre held at the Opera House, Buxton, Derbyshire.

Horsforth Grove Methodist Amateur Operatic Society, who were invited to take part in the festival which ran from August 16-29, learned on Saturday night that they had become the international champions with their performance of Fiddler on the Roof which they staged on August 17.

Other major awards went to John Hudson, of Yeadon, (best actor), Kay Vann, of Ilkley, (best female actor) and David Kirk, formerly of Yeadon, (best director). The show also received the best stage management award.

In addition Sylvia Blackie, the society's musical director, was placed second in the musical director section.

Reg Vinnicombe, of Baildon, the society's president, said: "It is absolutely marvellous for the society. I am so pleased with the awards. It is just wonderful and is just reward for all the hard work all members of the society have done in putting on this show. It is absolutely wonderful for John, Kay and David, who have gained individual awards and it is also marvellous for the whole society."

Mr Vinnicombe said it had not yet sunk in that the Grove Society had become international champions.

The icing on the cake came when the society received an invitation from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association to perform the cabaret at the association's centenary celebrations in London next spring.

Producer David Kirk said he was over the moon with the society's success at such a prestigious festival. "I am so pleased for company because they worked so hard to put on the show for a week at Yeadon Town Hall in spring and then worked just as hard for their performance at Buxton," he said.

Mr Kirk emphasised that while he gained the award for the best director section it was really down to the production team as a whole which included Jacqui Drake (choreographer) and Sylvia Blackie (musical director). "Whilst I am pleased with receiving the award for my work it has also come about through the hard work put in by Jacqui and Sylvia," he added.

When John Hudson arrived home from a holiday in Majorca he found his home decorated with gold and silver balloons and 'oscars. "It was a marvellous home-coming because I had no idea we had won anything and then when I learned the society had scooped five awards I was simply delighted. I am pleased with my award and pleased for Kay, David and the whole society," he said.

"It was a just reward for the society for a lot of hard work," he added.

"These awards make up for the disappointment I had on hearing about Yeadon Cricket Club's defeats," said John, who is secretary of Yeadon CC.

Kay Vann said her award was the cherry on the icing of the cake. "We were fortunate to put on the show at a wonderful theatre and the part of Golde is a peach of a part. I was thrilled to hear we had had a sweeping success and I am so pleased for David Kirk, who is a wonderful producer and, of course, for John."

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