In September 1980 a lady I'd never met before knocked on the door. She explained that she had got some people together to put on a show to raise money for Oldchurch Hospital's cancer unit in Romford as it was due to be closed.
The 18 year old women organising it was Sue Sargent (now Sue Ospreay) with her friend Brenda King. Brenda had cancer and had been campaigning for better cancer awareness.
A neighbour knew that my mum and I had been to dance classes and asked us for help with some routines so we went along... But I thought it was stupid! There were only about 20 people in the group, everyone made their own costumes and helped with the props.
One day I was posted a carrier bad containing green foil wrapping paper and instructions on scrap paper describing how to attach it to my leotard for the main dance routine, these were Lightnin's humble beginnings.
The show took place on January 24th 1981, There were other groups helping to fundraise including a big band, some men doing a spoof majorettes routine and a man playing the piano.
It was a success and of course Sue was hungry for more. Sadly Brenda died during the rehearsals for our next show. Lightnin' was devastated, she had fought so hard and inspired everyone.
The cancer may have beaten her but Brenda, Sue and Lightnin' had beaten the system and the Cancer unit stayed open.
"The Show must go on" as they say, so we rehearsed for Brenda with Vigor. The show was Cinderella (The first of three to date). We rehearsed in Sue's back garden or in the park as we had no where else to go.
For over ten years we had performed shows at The Chafford School, Rainham. Until one exciting day, Sue unravelled a large roll of toilet paper to reveal the words "Lightnin' Drama Group proudly presents Rock and Rolling Robin Hood at The Queens Theatre - Hornchurch" written in pen. The group become ecstatic. It was the first time that we had performed using backing tracks instead of singing along to the original artist, let alone to an audience over twice the size that we were used to.
Over the years the group grew bigger and better, Sue got married and all the members attended in Lightnin' T-Shirts, bridging the happy couple as they left the church.
There must have been over a thousand people in Lightnin' over the years and a thousand stories to tell. I remember when the sugar glass bottle was accidentally broken before the show so the poor mad was hit on the head with a ladle instead. We have scenery pinned back during performances, cast wearing shoes a size to small for them, tapes jamming in mid-song, the curtain lifted to reveal Tarzan climbing a ladder to his rope and a poor lady passing out inside a two-headed dragon costume, whilst the other half was trying to hold her and walk at the same time.
Lightnin's crowning glory came when the group reached 21. To celebrate, the group performed She-Riff at the London Palladium.
As well as the 25th Anniversary, in September Lightnin' has had some monumental occasions in the last year alone. Namely, two marriages from Lightnin' members who met in the group and a couple of months ago the first Lightnin' baby was born.
As we enter our 26th year we have yet another fantastic show written by Sue. You can see there is no end to her talent and passion. As the director she works hard, but as a person, just like the reason for doing the show, she would do anything for anyone. She has given so much to so many people from providing a hobby to inspiring a career. She has not only kept many children off the streets, she takes them on an annual holiday to Stubbers where I could write another thousand funny stories.
Sue will thank so many people for helping her to make this show possible, but a thousand people would like to say Thank you Sue for making them stars.
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