Children across Berkshire have been invited to exclusive showings of much-loved panto favourites, with hundreds turning out in December and into the new year.

In December they visited the beautifully decorated Theatre Royal, Windsor for the second Berkshire performance of the ‘Panto Project’ in 2022.

A total of 357 children from special educational schools (SEN) across Berkshire and surrounding areas and children nominated by a range of local children’s charities were given tickets for the exciting journey to Windsoria.

The children experienced an imaginary world ruled by King Fox, aka Basil Brush, to witness a modern fairy-tale of Sleeping Beauty turning 18, falling in love and marrying a handsome prince.

Slough Observer:

In total, 372 tickets for the performance had been purchased courtesy of donations from the Berkshire Masonic Charity, the Louis Bayliss Foundation Trust and interval ice creams were provided courtesy of Beechdean.

More panto performances are set to take place in January 2023, when a touring panto will visit a SEN school in Maidenhead.

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master Peter Sands said: “To see the pleasure on the families faces is quite an honour.

"To be able to come to see this wonderfully performed Pantomime can’t help but leave all who see it, touched by the effect it has on these children.

"This is very much Freemasonry working in the community and I’m delighted to be a part of that. OH YES I AM!”

The Provincial Grand Master for the Freemasons of Berkshire (Anthony Howlett-Bolton OBE) together with his Deputy (Peter Sands) and the Provincial Grand Charity Steward (Gerry Preston) were all in attendance to meet and greet the children and partake in all the fun.