Pictured: (l-r) some of the younger members of the cast of A Pocketful of Songs: Josh Jones, 11, Tipton; Faye Cartwright, 12, Tipton; Charles Jeynes, 13, Birmingham; Chelsea Sudlow, 13. Coseley; George Hancox, 8, Tipton. Seated: (L) Kelvin McGee, Tipton Operatic and Amateur Dramatic Society (TOADS); Graham Howes, paint warehouse assistant at Cooper Coated Coil

A Tipton based amateur dramatics society has welcomed support from the employer of one of its members. Tipton Operatic and Amateur Dramatic Society (TOADS), based at the Brook Street Centre, Brook Street, Tipton, will welcome Kevin Tranter, the managing director of Wolverhampton based Cooper Coated Coil (CCC), to its musical evening A Pocketful of Songs on Friday 14th October at 7.30pm. Kevin will be presenting the raffle prizes donated by CCC for the event and the proceeds will go to TOADS or a registered charity. 

TOADS was formed in 1993 by Kelvin McGee. Formerly based at Alexandra High School, the society made the move to the Brook Street Centre but then discovered the centre was faced with closure. 

Graham Howes, of Tipton, has worked at CCC for 28 years, and been involved with TOADS since 1995. "The centre is regularly used by over 600 people", says Graham. "When Sandwell Council saw and heard the strength of feeling surrounding its proposed closure, they did a u-turn and now support us and other groups that use the venue. They have supplied us with grants as well to keep the venue going.

"The centre is managed brilliantly by Steve Downing and we've put on shows including Annie and The Sound of Music, and one of our members has even gone on to the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton. Our choreographer is Craig Randall and scripts are written by Kelly McGee, a teacher at Alexandra High School.

"We have all sorts of community events at Brook Street, and TOADS events are very popular. We meet every Wednesday and are always looking for new members and volunteers of any age, to join the chorus, act, sing or work backstage and on the general running. No experience is needed, it's great fun and it brings people of all ages and backgrounds together."

Money raised at the events is ploughed back into TOADS or a nominated charity, such as Help for Heroes in 2010. 

CCC is based on the Planetary Industrial Estate in Wolverhampton. The company applies specialist coatings onto aluminium and steel coils for use in the manufacture of housewares, bakeware, automotive and white goods. Metalrax, CCC's parent company has seen a rise in its profits over the last year due to an increase in desire for British manufacturing together with the unprecedented resurgence in home baking.

"I'm delighted to be involved with TOADS", said Kevin Tranter, managing director of CCC. "Many of our employees have worked at CCC for decades and we are proud of our family feel. Graham and the team at TOADS put in an enormous amount of time and energy into this kind of charitable work for the good of the local community and CCC is only too happy to support them in any way we can."

Tickets for A Pocketful of Songs are £5.00 adults and £3.00 senior citizens and children. Performances will be Friday 14th October and Saturday 15th October at 7.30pm. To book, call Kelvin McGee on 07904 586936 or 0121 530 3371, or by person from the Brook Street Centre.

TOADS Christmas Panto, "Cinderella in Tiptonia", described as "A magical Christmas Panto with an hilarious local twist", is on Friday 16th, Sat 17th and Sun 18th December, with Saturday and Sunday matinees 3.00pm and evening performances 7.00pm. Tickets are £3.00 adult, £1.00 child. All Enquires - Steve Downing on 07956 684716.