Wardens Panto Trip
Christmas 2003 arrived two days early for 70 lucky children in North and East Manchester. In December 2003 the New East Manchester (Miles Platting & Ancoats) and the North Manchester Neighbourhood Wardens took 70 children to the Opera House to see Cinderella. The trip was arranged by both warden teams to reward children who had shown good behaviour both in school and out of school. Local primary schools St Mark’s and Nicholas Varley in Miles Platting and Burgess Primary, Lily Lane, Moston Fields, Holy Trinity, Moston Lane and St. Dunstan’s in North Manchester selected some children and they were selected on the basis of good attendance, work and behaviour, and others were selected because they have helped the wardens throughout the year in organising and taking part in clean-up events and other activities.

Children, parent helpers and wardens were collected by coach at two separate pick up points. Once settled onto the coach the children were given ‘lucky bags’ filled with goodies and congratulated for being chosen to go on the trip. After negotiating some rather heavy Christmas traffic (thanks to the superb coach drivers) all arrived in good time to settle down for the spectacular performance of Cinderella.

The children (and adults!) were extremely well behaved throughout the first half and were rewarded at the interval with a tub of ice cream delivered very promptly by the staff at the theatre. The ice cream worked wonders to lubricate everybody’s vocal chords in time to help ‘Buttons’ prevent a mystery package from being stolen by shouting for ‘Buttons!’ as loudly as possible if anyone ventured near it. (A good bunch of potential crime fighters of the future in the making it seemed!).

The whole performance was brilliant and both children and adults were amazed by the special effects on the stage. Whilst leaving the theatre a number of other theatre goers remarked on how well behaved the children were, and that the rows of seats they sat in were the cleanest rows after the performance! Obviously these children know the importance of disposing of litter responsibly!

Each child received a selection box on leaving the coach along with congratulations from the wardens for their excellent behaviour throughout the day. The day was extremely enjoyable and it is hoped to repeat it this year with another group of deserving children.