Examiner Community Awards: Arts Award

Jun 20 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE Avalanche Dodgers have raised thousands of pounds for local charities over the last 40 years.

They pack the hall at Marsden every year with fans of their popular all-male pantomimes.

Marsden local Peter Armitage – whose son is the famous poet, Simon Armitage – pens the plays every year while on holiday in Majorca.

He says that while he’s away from distractions he can write his versions of popular stories with a comic twist in just a fortnight.

The 74-year-old told the Examiner he was ‘really chuffed’ the group was shortlisted for the Arts Award.

“I’m extremely pleased – we’re a really tight group,’’ he said.

“Marsden is a bit isolated because it’s at the end of the valley.

“But it’s a community and we’re a community in our efforts to support the village and I feel very strongly about it.”

The group has raised around £100,000 so far, which it always puts straight back into the village.

The Dodgers have also performed for the British Legion and private shows to cheer up two seriously ill local children.

This year the dodgers performed The British Railway Children and, as usual, tickets sold out very quickly.