TWO friends who were fed up with only meeting their former colleagues and co-stars at funerals are to stage a proper reunion.

Jean Emerson and Terry Hogden were founder members of the Adastrians stage group.

But the group, created just after the Second World War, drifted apart in the early 1980s.

In November they appealed through the pages of the Adver for former colleagues to get in touch so they could bring everyone back together.

And now their reunion plan has come off, with the festivities planned for March 10 at Broome Manor Golf Club.

The ladies are hoping that if nothing else there will be a few chats and laughs at the event.

Jean, 70, says that without the Adver's help things would not have got moving.

"We thought up the idea but had no idea the article would get things started in such a big way," said Jean.

"The piece brought in a lot of phone calls and got the enthusiasm going.

"Organising the reunion was a lot of hard work, but that will just make it all the more special.

"I expect that everyone there will be having a good old chat.

"We did a lot of productions and some of us are still involved in amateur dramatics so there is certainly a lot to talk about.

"I am very pleased with the turnout we are likely to get.

"The only ones who aren't coming are the ones who had other plans on the day."

Although the Adastrians group originally had about 200 members Mrs Emerson says about 30 of the 50 people tracked down for the bash will be attending.

And there is a chance that gathering so many former thespians together at one time could lead to an impromptu performance.

"We used to have annual dinners and one of the men coming has an old script from one of the little scripts from one of those," said Jean.

"So who knows? Maybe there is a chance that will be a little more going on in the evening than we first thought."