JERICHO ECHO ARTICLE

Welcome rejects

Members of the 'Jericho Rejects' drama group are among Oxford's most popular entertainers.

December 1996

The Jericho Rejects first got together to organize a street party for the Queen's Silver Jubilee. A few years later we organized a street party for Charles and Diana's wedding - for this we performed a 'cabaret'. This little event gave us the appetite for more and we staged the first Jericho Rejects pantomime. For the opening of the Community Centre we provided a sing-along. This led to an invitation to entertain at the Town Hall for the OAP's Christmas party. To our surprise we were asked to perform our sing-alongs at other venues in and around the city, and have been asked back year after year. We do not make a charge but most places give us a donation for our charity. For the past twelve years we have entered a float in the Lord Mayor's parade. Our record is: four first places, one second, two thirds, and two 'most imaginative'. This year the theme was 'books'. Many thanks to our supporters who cheered us on as Dalmatians from 101 Dalmatians. Another first. We have had lots of slip-ups and mistakes, but have lots of laughter and pleasure. We enjoy every minute of it. The proudest and most memorable was performing in South Parks in May 1995 to commemorate VE Day. The sight of the crowd waving hankies, and linking arms singing Land of Hope and Glory with us was a moment never to be forgotten.

Author: Wendy Matthews, Walton Street

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