Become a Friend of the Trust
Contact us
News
 Home
 News
 Profile
 Writing
 Articles
 Music
 Listen
 Gallery
 Timeline
 Trust
 Register
 Contact
News Home
News Stories
The Gluepot Connection - New CD and Concert
New book on Alan Bush by Dr Joanna Bullivant
Talk at Oxford University
Re-broadcast of Alan Bush radio programme
Alan Bush programme on Australian Radio
Recent Concert of Alan Bush's Works in Cape Town
Stokes Meyer Sightreading Prize 2016
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2016
South Africa concert in September
October concert in South Africa
Ormskirk Music Society Concert
Concerts in June and July
Two new CDs
Appeal for funds for new Alan Bush CD
Alan Bush concerts in Russia and Belarus in April and May 2013
Lascaux Symphony on new CD
Alan Bush concerts in Russia in 2013
Alan Bush featured at John Ireland Festival in London in June
London performance of Dialectic in May
New CD - British Recorder Music
Two performances of The Winter Journey in Germany in December 2011
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2011
A Review of 24 Preludes for Piano and Ballet in Small Spaces
Alan Bush's Twenty Four Preludes and the Ballet In Small Spaces, May 2011
Red Strains: Music and Communism outside the Communist Bloc after 1945
Performance of Corentyne Kwe-Kwe
New Publications of Alan Bush Compositions
German Production of The Press Gang
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2010
BBC broadcast of the 'The Winter Journey'
Memories of 'The Ferryman's Daughter'
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2009
Frank and Hilda Stokes and Marjorie Meyer Sight-Reading Prize 2009
Photos of the the Unveiling Party of the Alan Bush Bust
The Unveiling Party of the Alan Bush Portrait Bust by Ian Walters
December 2008 Performance of 'The Winter Journey'
September 2008 Concert
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2008
Frank Stokes and Marjorie Meyer Sightreading Prize 2008
Christ's College Memorial Service for Paul O'Higgins
Professor Paul O'Higgins
Alan Bush Bust Appeal
Two recent books on Alan Bush available now
Concert in September 2006
Forthcoming Books
London Concert in December
More performances of Concert Piece in Europe
Dimension to perform Three Concert Studies
Alan Bush Composition Prize 2006
Performance of Concert Piece for Cello and Piano in Munich
Birmingham Clarion Singers Concert
Concert at RNCM in November 2005
Upcoming Concerts
New CD by the London Piano Quartet
The Stokes and Meyer Memorial Prize for Sight-Reading
CD and Concert of Bush's Symphonies Nos 1 and 2
Northern Chamber Orchestra Concert
RNLI Concert Review
RNLI Concert in September
The Alan Bush Composition Prize 2003
Manchester International Cello Festival
Edna Iles Memorial Concert
April Chamber Concerts – Alauna Ensemble
Concert review of Sonatina for Recorders and Piano in Norwich
Violin Concerto CD selected CD of the year by critic
New Redcliffe CD - British String Quartets (No. 3)
Concert in January 2003 at the Purcell Room, London
Alan Bush Chamber Music – Volume 1 released
New CD - 'Alan Bush' - Re-issue of 1985 Hyperion recording
"In My Eighth Decade and Other Essays" available from Trust
Nancy Bush's book published
Virtual Alan Bush exhibition goes live
News Archive
2003
2002
2001
2000



Memories of 'The Ferryman's Daughter'
Posted: 2 November 2009

The cast of 'The Ferryman's Daughter'
The cast of 'The Ferryman's Daughter'. Click for larger image.

Glenn Richards recently sent the Alan Bush Trust a photo of the cast of 'The Ferryman's Daughter' which was performed at Chase Terrace Middle School, Burntwood, Staffordshire in 1978.

He also sent an account of the performance which we reproduce below with his permission:

In 1961, Alan Bush composed and Nancy Bush wrote the libretto of a children's operetta entitled 'The Ferryman's Daughter'. This was the third operetta which Alan and Nancy Bush had written together and it was published by Novello and Co. Ltd. Time of performance is approximately one hour.

It was first performed at St. Christopher's School, Letchworth on 6 March 1964. It was produced by Reginald Snell and Austin O'Neill was the musical producer.

In December 1978, The Ferryman's Daughter was performed at Chase Terrace Middle School, Rugeley Road, Burntwood, Staffordshire and produced by the music tutor, Heather Price.

The operetta takes place in the 18th Century beside the Thames at Wapping Old Stairs. The cast is made up of Mr Wilkins, an old waterman, Jenny, his daughter, Nat, a young waterman, Tom Starling, a young farmer, Mrs Patchett, a fisherman's wife and a chorus of watermen, fishermen and girls.

The story of the operetta is one of love and rivalry. Mr Wilkins, a Thames waterman, is getting too old to carry on his trade. His daughter, Jenny, sells fish along the waterside, and is sure she can make a living for both of them, but her father wants her to marry a waterman, so he can retire with an easy mind. Jenny is in love with Tom Starling, a young farmer, and does not agree.

Every year, there is a race for the championship of the river, soon to take place. Mr Wilkins announces, to Jenny's dismay, that the winner may marry his daughter if she will agree, and also have his boat and custom. To Nat, a young and conceited waterman, who was last year's champion, the result seems a foregone conclusion. Tom, however, asks if he can compete. Nat and the other watermen make fun of him, but as they think he has no chance of winning, he is allowed to take part.

The race takes place and Tom, after a disasterous start, draws level and finally overtakes Nat, the flagging champion. He passes the winning post before all the rest and is awarded not only the waterman's silver badge, but Jenny's hand. The happy ending is celebrated with a general song and dance.

Glenn took the part of Nat, and wrote that he still remembers all the songs. In the photo, Jenny is seated on the left, and Tom, with leeks and a country bumpkin style smock, stands behind her. Mrs Patchett, with the hat, also stands behind Jenny. Glenn, sitting with a tankard in the centre, as Nat, gets his come-uppance in the race. Mr Wilkins, the old ferryman, wearing a spotted kerchief, is seated third from the right.