THE board of the Chester Mystery Plays has organised a gala dinner to celebrate the diamond anniversary of the modern revival of the plays, which were reinstated in the city in 1951 to celebrate the Festival of Britain.

Members have created luxury hampers to auction at the event, which will take place at White’s Dining Rooms at the University of Chester on Friday, March 22. The dinner is made possible by kind permission of the university vice-chancellor Professor Tim Wheeler. Each hamper has been themed and is worth more than £100.

Board member Judy Cheeseman, who has created a Cheshire-themed hamper, said: “We went around Cheshire trying to find ‘gems’. These included The Cheshire Smokehouse, Hollies Farm Shop and small specialist shops like Chester’s Cheese Shop.Š The Cheshire Made Shop is a real find and well worth a visit especially as they are a young business and will be opening a coffee shop in the near future.”

Tickets for the gala dinner, which will include a four-course meal, wine and entertainment, are available at £55 per person or £50 each if you take a table of eight or ten guests from Jane Dawson on 07813 661949.

Tickets are on sale now for the Chester Mystery Plays at Chester Cathedral from June 26-July 13 2013 from 01244 500959 or from www.chestermysteryplays.com.