IT was a case of stand and deliver for actors at the Pennington Memorial Hall 20 years ago as the village gave a funny twist to the exploits of a notorious highwayman.

The Mail, on Thursday, February 19, in 1998, noted: “Pennington Pantomimers are back in action this week with a fun version of the tale of Dick Turpin.

“A very funny script, some well-loved sings and plenty of skulduggery are on the cards.

“Ray Hodgson plays Dick Turpin, the not-all-that-wicked highwayman, with Mike Whittaker as Dame Dollop, Jan Gough as Katy Cuddlesome, Dawn Chojnacki as Billy Bumpkin and Yvonne Athersmith as Caroline."

The article noted: “Kevin Dowdall is Lord Lottaloot, Caroline’s father, Adrian Chojnacki is Parson Goodfellow, Sheila Foote and Neil Douglas and Nick and Nab the comic policeman, Adam Chojnacki and Anne Hodgson are Smash and Grab the baddies.

“Iain Harrison is the judge, while Rachel Chojnacki and Ruth Wilson join forces to play Daisy the Cow.

“Sue Wilson has directed the show with choreography by Jan Gough and Dawn Chojnacki.

“Judith Grantham is in charge of the music.”

The real highwayman Richard “Dick” Turpin lived from September 1705 to April 1739.

His exploits were romanticised after his execution in York for horse theft. During his criminal career he had also been poacher, burglar and murderer.

He had been living under the alias of John Palmer and only after being arrested at a York inn did his true identity emerge.

A story of his supposed 200-mile overnight ride from London to York on Black Bess was made famous by Victorian novelist William Harrison Ainsworth.