The following day he called into my workplace and told me l had got the part and before l could say anything else he said that Mabel Bagley the assistant director was the Mayoress of Trafford and was fixing a months extention for me so l could do the show.
There was only three weeks to go and l jumped in with both feet to rehearse with the rest of the cast. I only saw Berty Holland once before the dress rehearsal at the STH. Rehearsals were mainly taken by Ms Bagley and Mrs Wildern (Tom Wilderns wife) and the repetiteur.

No principals attended the first three rehearsals and l first met them on the Sunday before the show when we all tripped off to Marple for a days relaxation. Most of them had been in an earlier production but l enjoyed working with the very enthusiastic chorus.
Dress rehearsal worked very well and although there was a flu epidemic around which grounded some of the cast, opening night went very well with no hitches. Something l had not experienced with other groups.

I am not a tenor so Nanki needed extra effort on my part. The other principals were a very friendly talented lot and my fondest show memory was performing with them. One of the hikers on that day out to Marple was June Ritchie whos younger sister you will note was in the chorus. I was apprenticed to her uncle John at Shell. One of the juniors was a Francis Doubleday who l thought was quite exceptional and hope she continued with that interest.

Mr Holland, i believe, had already lost interest in the group because he no longer had the support of local talent. All the principals were exceptional in their parts and l never once had to worry about their support.

Former members not included in your Hall of Fame are, pop singer Edna Savage and Lovejoy.

I turned pro with a former teaching colleague of M Holland Trevor Beeston and his wife Jackie doing clubs and theatres  around the country.

I later became a solo performer doing vocals and comedy and compering shows in theatres and clubs.

Following  three seasons on Blackpool's Central Pier plus running the Peter Webster children's show in the daytime l moved to Skegness and Whitstable before emigrating to Australia appearing in light operas, TV commercials, children's programmes and movies.

Just wondered. Is the Essoldo cinema still there? The last show l did before The Mikado was Zip Goes a Million with Urmston 0peratic Soc. It was the only time in its history that it was used for live show.

I was a trained dancer and played the juvenile lead opposite choreographer, Sheila Payant.

​Strange l should cross the road to do your Mikado!