North Cheshire Amateur Operatic Society
TRIBUTE WEBSITE
This page contains messages from readers who have happy memories of people they knew,
from performing in or watching North Cheshire shows. Please submit yours through the contact us page.
12/9/2022 Anne Burns (daughter of the late Derek Burns) writes:
I have just heard that sadly Bill Young has passed away at the age of 97. He was suffering from prostate cancer.
Bill and his late wife Sybil were delightful people and loved by everyone who knew them. They were amongst the longest serving
committee members of the society, dating back to the late 1950's. Sybil together with her late sister Joan, also appeared in many of the shows.
Bill will be much missed by all his friends and family and our deepest sympathies are with them at this sad time.
Michael Dean writes:
My father played in quite a few shows, ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Kismet’ and ‘Camelot’, acting and singing in some leading parts.
His name was Gerry Dean. I would love to receive any information or pictures you may have.
He sadly passed away when I was very young . My mother Barbara Dean was in the chorus, that is how they met.
Kind regards Michael Dean .
Authors Note: Michael’s father played Sky Masterson in the 1971 production of ‘Guys & Dolls’. He also played a character called Hajj in the 1961 production of ‘Kismet’. I was pleased to be able to send Michael some pictures from the programmes.
Local Historian Hazel Pryor, writes about one the founders Vernon Dunkerley :
He lived in Park Road Timperley with his wife Lilian, Timperley Parish Magazine of the time reported in May 1914 that
Vernon is 'starting an Operatic Society in Timperley'.
Vernon served in the 9th Bn Royal Sussex Regt., but sadly died on 10th May 1918 from wounds received in France.
He is commemorated on the WW1 roll of honour at Christ Church Timperley and buried there in a family grave.
Hazel also writes about Musical Director, Harold Clayton who was the organist at St Andrew’s Church.
Timperley Parish Magazine reports in December 1915 that Harold is away serving his country.
As a result Mr Bate will play instead, and will be giving concerts in the Infant School.
Donald Bowie, son of actor John Bowie writes:
My Father John Bowie appeared in several of the society's productions from 1949 through to the mid 50's, mainly in the chorus but once as a cast member also. I hadn't realised that he had been in so many productions because the only time he sung at home was the title song from Oklahoma. Sadly there isn't a copy of the programme on your website.
From the souvenir programmes my father sang in the male choir in the following:-
Tulip Time 1949 (with my Mother Peggy as a dancing girl)
Maritza 1950
The new Moon 1950 (also listed as two characters in the cast)
Sunny 1951
Carissima 1952
Glamorous Night 1953
Mr Cinders 1954
Zip Goes A Million 1955
It is really only in hindsight how significant the lifelong friendships that our parents made with other members were. My brother, sister and I were only born in the 50’s and it’s only now on reflection how long those friendships really were.
Their friends, mentioned in the programmes were, Phillip (Trevor) Knott, Norma Wilcox, Marie Bowland and Norma Stockbridge.
Best Regards
Don Bowie
Allen Astles, son of Mr & Mrs Frank Astles writes:
I recently came across the North Cheshire Amateur Operatic Society website, and found it very interesting. My Father (Frank Astles) and Mother were members of the society in the 1960’s and 70’s. I attended many of the society’s shows in Manchester with my parents as a boy and young man in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, I seem to recall that they were usually at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, and they were always exciting events in a large and wonderful theatre. I have very good memories of them. The shows, and the LP gramophone records of many of the shows, helped to whet my appetite for musicals and operettas, which I still enjoy today. I was sorry to see that the Society is no longer functioning.
Authors Note: Allen has very kindly offered to donate his parents collection of programmes for me to put on the website and store in my archive.
David Miller has written in reminding us of one of the junior performers in NCAOS Shows:
James Conroy-Ward was born in Timperley of a theatrical family and was an excellent singer and actor at a very young age. He attended Altrincham Boys Grammar School. At 12, James was invited to play juvenile roles for the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company for their performances in Manchester. For the NCAOS he played ‘Churchill’ a Newspaper Boy in the 1956 production of ‘Wedding In Paris’ and later in 1961 the part of ‘Jawan’ in Kismet. On leaving school, after studying at the Royal Northern College of Music, he joined the D’Oyly Carte Company in 1973 and performed in their major comic roles until the company closed in 1982 when he became a music publisher.
Mary Clarke who played Mabel in the 1989 Palace Theatre production of 'The Pirates of Penzance' has contacted me and sent this production photo. It shows her as Mabel and Howard Raw who played Frederic.
