Past Members and Remembrance

We pay tribute and honor our friends at the theatre who are no longer with us.

This is a new feature on our new website and there are alot of missing names to be added, so if anyone has memories, photos and updates to this roll call of past members, please contact us and we will be delighted to update this page.

As stated, this is a very new feature, so please bear with us as we slowly try to feature everyone possible – at the moment this list is in no particular order – and we would hope this does not just become a list of names – as much information would be appreciated from fellow members and friends. Please contact webmaster@altrinchamgarrick.co.uk

Sir Fergus Montgomery	Sir Fergus Montgomery, our President, was held in great esteem and affection by all of us. He worked tirelessly to ensure that our efforts to fund the refurbishment of the Garrick were successful. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude as without him the Garrick would not be the jewel it is today. His love of the theatre was immense and his encouragement was an inspiration.

Verity Fairclough	Died 28th March 2013 – It is easier to say what she had not done than what she has done. Board Member, Chairman of the Exec., Front of House worker, ASM and backstage worker and she even appeared on stage sometimes seen, sometimes not. She was the model society member and with more like her who knows what could be achieved and all quietly and without fuss. If you cut her in half, like Blackpool rock, she would have Garrick written through her.
Diana Provan (Harker)	Died 23rd Feb 2013. Diana and her husband Joe joined the theatre in the early 1960’s and she soon proved her worth as a very talented actress going on to make many outstanding performances in those early years before moving on into the professional theatre. She then returned to the theatre some few years later to take on the role of Director and once again her exceptional talent shone through with some wonderful productions. Wonderfully imaginative, artistic, dedicated and with a refusal to accept nothing but the best she became a much loved character at the Garrick. Many actors considered Diana as the best person they ever acted with or performed for. Diana and Joe moved to their beloved Italy about 12 years ago when Joe retired and have lived there very happily ever since, visited regularly by their children Jeremy, Julia and Nicholas and their respective families.In the Messenger – ‘Tribute to Altrincham actress who met Monroe’ Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Rick BowenACTRESS and director Diana Provan, the former Altrincham resident who once looked after screen legend Marilyn Monroe, has died at the age of 75.Joseph, her husband, said Diana met the iconic star when she was on the editorial board of a theatre magazine called Encore.He said: “They had a seminar in London and they invited Arthur Miller to come along. He brought Marilyn Monroe with him. The people on the board said to Diana you look after Marilyn while we get Arthur Miller on stage. Marilyn was in disguise wearing a false wig. Diana had to sit next to her and had pointed out her wig was falling off.”Diana, who was also known by her stage name, Diana Harker, enjoyed a long and varied stage and screen career. She was one of the directors of Manchester’s Library Theatre and her TV appearances included Coronation Street and the BBC comedy Last of the Summer Wine.She also acted in and directed plays at Altrincham Garrick and lifelong friend Neville Roby, the theatre’s marketing manager, paid her a warm tribute.He said: “Wonderfully imaginative, artistic, dedicated and with a refusal to accept nothing but the best she became a much loved character at the Garrick. I know of many actors who consider Diana the best person they ever acted or performed for and I put myself in that category also.”

Frank Boylan	Frank Boylan had been a member and regular performer until a couple of years ago. His comic timing was superb – he could stop the show by just walking across the stage, as he did in Forum a few years ago. His performance in Diary of Anne Frank (1976/77) as Anne’s father was memorable for its tenderness and humility. He will be remembered mostly for being Frank – a gentle man in all senses of the word.

Mike Stocks	Died Tuesday 8th January 2013, after a long illness. Mike was a set designer and you will have seen many of his sets over the years. Mike spent most of his working life in the profession designing and working on sets for theatre and TV. He worked in the design department at Granada TV on such classics as Brideshead Revisited and many others until his retirement and happily for the theatre, spent his latter years working here in his spare time. Mike had a great sense of humour and a very quick wit. He was no mean performer on the drums as some of us witnessed at the Christmas draw on occasions, having run his own dance band after the war.

Val Bacon	Passed away on 3rd June 2013 after a long illness.Val Bacon was an acting member at the Garrick over the last decade most recently in ‘Mr Wonderful’ and ‘The Steamie’. She was also a regular performer with a number of local Societies including Urmston Musical Theatre, Sale Nomads, Edge Fold Players, All Saints and Salford Operatic but of late concentrated all her attention to the Garrick. She also worked as an ASM as well as helping out Front of House. Val’s TV credits include Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Linda Green (with Lisa Tarbuck). She also appeared in adverts for Hotter Shoes and Sheerings Holidays. Val will be sadly missed by her many friends.

Jan Maddocks	Died Tuesday 11th December. Jan had been associated with the Garrick all her life and mainly supported events on the social side of things here at the theatre. Often to be found selling Christmas Draw tickets or serving up hot food at the many after show parties over the years. Jan’s maiden name was Byrom and it was this family who played such an important part in the formation of the society and in time the theatre itself. All the meetings in the early days and rehearsals took place in her Great Grandfathers premises known as Byroms Buildings on Kingsway in Altrincham. Her Grandfather was a founder member and remained involved throughout his life and of course introduced Jan to the theatre. She will be sadly missed by all her many friends and family and particularly so by all of us here at the theatre. Our thoughts, at this sad time, are with her husband Peter and her family.

Harry Williams	Harry will probably only be known to our older members as he has not been at the theatre for quite sometime. However he was a very valued acting member for many years and appeared in many productions, the Tin Man in our first production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, Tony in ‘The Boy Friend’ and many other plays including Shakespeare and Music Hall.

Ian Appleyard	Died Sunday 5th February. Ian had been a member for over 50 years and laterly was a member of my volunteer Front of House Staff, we will miss him greatly.

Linda Panton	Linda has been associated with the theatre for over 40 years. She worked appeared on stage and worked both backstage and front of house as did her husband Terry and daughter Jenny

Audrey Hughes

Phil Lynch	Phil Lynch was a past Chairman of the Society. He and his wife Val joined the Society in the early 80’s and Phil took part in a number of plays until they left to move back to the South of England.

Pamela Knox	A true Garrick stalwart, a tireless supporter of the theatre, including the Props Department and also looking after the archives for many many years, her lasting legacy for the theatre was writing and producing the published history of the theatre – The Flame Still Burns, the story of Altrincham Garrick in 1993.

Stella Fogg

Tony Mathews

Terry Chandler

Roger Metcalfe

Richard Honeyman

Sybil Dodds

Ken Weston	6th Nov 2013 – Councillor Ken Weston had represented the Broadheath ward since 2000 and was chosen as the borough’s mayor in 2010Tributes have been paid to a former Trafford mayor who has died suddenly. Councillor Ken Weston had represented the Broadheath ward since 2000 and was chosen as the borough’s mayor in 2010. Trafford council’s leader, Councillor Matt Colledge said Councillor Weston had suffered from ill health but was believed to be ‘well on his way to recovery’. “He was back at his duties attending meetings and working for his constituents,” he said. “It is a shock to learn of his sudden passing. “However I want to pay tribute to the dedication he showed in his role as a local councillor. “He felt privileged to be mayor of Trafford and to serve on the planning committee but ultimately it was helping out local residents in his ward that he valued the most. He will be greatly missed.”Fellow Broadheath Councillor Jacki Wilkinson said Cllr Weston was ‘totally focused’ on the ward and the needs of the residents during his 13 years as a councillor.”I will miss working with him for the benefit of the Broadheath”, she said. Councillor Weston was also a member of the Altrincham Court Leet group and had long-standing ties with the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse. At the Theatre he was a loyal supporter and a wonderful addition to our Front of House department, colleague and friend – sadly missed. Seen here…Ken Weston in Coronation Street (second from right)