COLIN GEORGE
Colin George, actor and director, poet and playwright, born September 20, 1929; died October 15, 2016
Colin George was the Crucible Theatre’s first artistic director, helping to establish Sheffield Theatres as the second largest theatre complex in the UK. Acting and directing internationally, Colin George earned a reputation as an expert in Greek Theatre and Shakespeare and staged the first performances of plays by Harold Pinter, Ron Blair and John Spurling.
Colin George was born in Pembroke Dock, the son of a Congregational Minister. He spent time with his grandmother in Tenby before attending Caterham School between 1937-1947. After National Service, Colin studied English language and English literature at University College, Oxford where he was actively involved in the Oxford University Dramatic Society. In 1952, he established the Oxford and Cambridge Players (later known as the Elizabethan Theatre Company) with John Barton, Tony Robertson, Paul Almond and Peter Hall. The Elizabethan Theatre Company ran from 1953 -1955, with Colin George playing many roles including Henry V, which was also captured in a live performance on BBC Television. From 1956 to 1958, Colin was an actor at Birmingham Repertory Theatre before taking on the role of Associate Director at Nottingham Playhouse. He directed Merchant of Venice (Alastair Sim – Shylock) and Oedipus (John Neville – Oedipus). He toured to the Manoel Theatre, Malta and brought the production of Willis Hall’s Celebration to the Duchess Theatre, London in 1961.
In 1962, Colin George directed Richard III at The Old Vic, London and Pinter’s The Caretaker in Sheffield. In 1963, Colin became Artistic Director of Sheffield Playhouse. He directed Hamlet, A Kind of Loving, Sergeant Musgrove’s Dance, The Stirrings in Sheffield on Saturday Night, Inadmissible Evidence and Twelfth Night over the next five years. He also started Theatre Vanguard (Youth Theatre) in 1963. In 1967, he started planning the Crucible Theatre.
Colin George recommended a thrust stage for Sheffield, inspired by theatres created by Sir Tyrone Guthrie. Tanya Moiseiwitsch, who had been involved in designing Guthrie’s theatres, was employed as the designer and became a long-time collaborator with Colin George in productions around the world. Colin struggled against the theatrical elite at the time who objected to the radical design and the plays staged as the first season which included Peer Gynt. However, he had heavy-weight support from the likes of Lord Laurence Oliver and James Mason and was able to drive through this ambitious artistic vision. The actors’ and audience’s experience was at the heart of his every decision and to decide the size of the stage, he delivered a speech from Henry V to plot out the perfect dimensions.
The Crucible building was completed in time for the opening performance in October 1971 of Fanfare, an evening’s entertainment comprising Chekhov’s Swan Song with Ian McKellen and Edward Petherbridge, and a Music Hall Finale with a Sheffield Brass Band and Colin George’s then wife, Dorothy Vernon. As Artistic Director at the Crucible, Colin George introduced Sheffield audiences to John Osborne, Harold Pinter, Bertolt Brecht and Arnold Webster.
The versatile Crucible stage, which has since been adapted to dance and musical performance as well as classical and modern theatre, is the home to its own long-running theatre company as well as receiving touring productions and hosting squash, table tennis and the World Snooker Championship tournament, which has been played annually in the Crucible since 1977.
The audience sits on three sides, but no-one is more than 22 metres from the performer. Consequently, although it seats 980 people, the spectator has an intimate relationship with the activity on stage. The nature of the stage means that productions in the Crucible tend to use minimal scenery so as not to block sightlines, preferring instead to concentrate on attention to detail in props and costumes – vital when the audience is so close to the stage.
In 2001, the Crucible was awarded the Barclays ‘Theatre of the Year Award and is a Grade II listed building.
Upon leaving the Crucible, Colin George played the part of Jimmy Graham, in the world’s longest running soap-opera Coronation Street. Colin George spent seven years in Australia as Artistic Director at The State Theatre of South Australia, Adelaide. He directed over thirty productions including Annie Get Your Gun, Macbeth, They Shoot Horses Don’t They? Henry IV parts one and two, Peer Gynt, Cymbeline, Hamlet, The Shaughraun, Oh What A Lovely War, Mystery Plays of Wakefield, and Three Sisters. He gave many Australian actors their first job there including Colin Friels, Judy Davies, Michael Siberry, Mel Gibson and Philip Quast. For the South Australian State Opera, he directed Elisir d’Amore, The Magic Flute, Fidelio and Falstaff.
He appointed playwright Ron Blair as writer in residence and staged the world premieres of Last Day in Wooloomooloo (1979) and Marx (1979). Although his time in Adelaide brought in the theatre’s biggest audiences to date, not every production met with adoration or support from the media. His controversial production of A Manual of Trench Warfare opened and closed in the same week.
Colin George was the first Head of Acting at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, a role he held for 11 years. Many of his students stayed in touch throughout his life.
A member of the Quaker friends for many years, Colin devoted much of his time to delivering theatre workshops for marginalised communities in the UK and abroad, visiting the Vietnamese refugee camps during his time in Hong Kong and working with the prison service in the UK.
On returning to the UK, Colin joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1994, playing in Stratford and Barbican Theatre, London, in Peer Gynt, Corialanus, Measure for Measure, The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest and Les Enfants du Paradis.
Throughout his career, Colin has directed internationally in Ottawa and Stratford, Ontario; in Belgrade, Jugoslavia, in Warsaw, at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, and his Chinese production of The Bacchae toured Beijing and Shanghai.
His last acting role was back in his beloved Crucible Theatre in 2011 in Daniel Evans’ production of Othello with Dominic West and Clarke Peters.
George is survived by his children, Gwendolyn, Caroline, Lucy and Edward, 14 grandchildren and by his wife Sue.
MRS. DELYSIA MARTIN
TENBY
The funeral of Delysia May Eke Martin took place at St. Mary’s Church, Tenby, yesterday (Thursday, October 20). It was conducted by Rev. John Morgan.
Born on December 16, 1926, at Augustus Place in Tenby, Delysia (also known as Del) was the daughter of Hubert, a London builder, and Ella Griffiths, who met in Ilford before commencing married life in Ella’s home town.
Delysia was predeceased by her five siblings - Moria, who was lost to diphtheria aged 11, Terence, Ashley, Denzil and the youngest John, who passed away earlier this year.
It was at a dance in the De Valence that Delysia met Sgt. Ted Martin, who was stationed at Manorbier Camp. They were married on July 2, 1949, and, after a couple of years in Inverness, they returned to Tenby. Ted left the Army and then trained as a teacher at Carmarthen College.
After living at Ilford, the family home on Broadwell Hayes, the ‘prefabs’ in Heywood Lane and at Knowling Mead, Ted and Delysia built Bella Vista in Lady Park in the early 1960s. Unfortunately Ted died in 2007.
Delysia is survived by a large family, including Geoffrey and Vivi, son and daughter-in-law, Penny and Dene, daughter and son-in-law, Georgina and Richard, daughter and son-in-law; grandchildren and their spouses - Vicky and Mark, Alex and David, Charlotte and Julian and Geoffrey and Charlotte, Lewis, Zoe and Curtis, Sam and Chloe; great-grandchildren - Ewan, Evan and Iori, David and Alex, Phoebe and Bradley and Geoffrey and Oliver; as well as sisters-in-law Esda and Iris, brother-in-law Ewart, cousins - Thomas and Didi, nephews and nieces - Marilyn, Simon, Mandy, Mark, Shaun, Darren and Rachel plus Nicholas and Amie, together with numerous other relatives, too many to mention.
Delysia attended Tenby Junior and Greenhill Schools, but always admitted that she was never a scholar.She worked at Tenby Laundry, the Jazz Sweet Shop and Denzil’s Sea Treasure Chest. Latterly, together with Ted, she ran a stall in Tenby Market.
She was a skilled seamstress and did lots of sewing and knitting. She was also a keen gardener who grew fine vegetables.
As a young mother, Delysia spent glorious summers on Tenby’s North Beach with her children. She was a social member of Tenby United RFC.
However, outside her family life, golf was Delysia’s principal hobby. She loved playing on the famous links at Tenby Golf Club. She was a very active member of the Ladies’ Section for many years, during which she won several trophies. She enjoyed many golf trips, including those to Carlyon Bay in Cornwall.
Delysia was a home bird. She had an encyclopaedic knowledge of what Tenby was like when she was growing up and how the town had changed and expanded during her lifetime.
Despite being a little stubborn and opinionated on occasions, Delysia will be remembered as a loving, witty and warm person by all who were lucky enough to know her. She was also the matriarch and Christmas Day mornings, when up to 50 attended Bella Vista, will never be the same again.
Bearers at the funeral were grandsons Sam, Lewis, Curtis and Geoffrey, together with nephews Mark and Darren.
Following the service at St. Mary’s, Delysia was interred at Tenby Cemetery. There were family flowers only.
If desired, donations can be made to Tenby Cottage Ward at Park House Court, c/o Messrs W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd, The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, or Landsker House, 21 Station Road, Narberth.
Mr. W. P. Luby
Stepaside
The death occurred peacefully on Wednesday, October 12, of Mr. William Patrick Luby. He was aged 79 and lived at Spring Rise, Stepaside.
Affectionately known to all as Pat, he was a much-loved husband of Barbara and will be sadly missed by his family and friends.
A private funeral service took place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium on Thursday.
There were family flowers only, with donations, if desired, made payable to Paul Sartori Foundation, c/o funeral directors, Messrs. W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, or Landsker House, 21 Station Road, Narberth, who also carried out the funeral arrangements.
Mr. K. P. Wilson
Summerhill
The death occurred peacefully at South Pembs. Hospital on Thursday, October 13, of Mr. Keith Patrick Wilson. He was aged 69 and lived in Summerhill Park, Summerhill.
Keith was husband of Sandra Wilson, son-in-law of the late Michael Hodges and Brenda Hodges, father to Sonia Rigney, Claire Callaghan, Joanne Wilson, Emma Dagdeverin, Johnathan Wilson and Ben Wilson, grandfather to 17 grandchildren, brother of Edna, Fred, Tony, Derek and Pam, brother-in-law of Andrew Hodges and the late David Hodges and uncle to many nephews and nieces.
The funeral service takes place on Wednesday, October 26, at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, at 2.30 pm.
Flowers or donations if desired payable to CRY, c/o funeral directors, Messrs. W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, or Landsker House 21 Station Road, Narberth, who are carrying out the funeral arrangements.
Mr. Brinley Jones
Saundersfoot
Peacefully, on Thursday, October 13, at Withybush Hospital, Bryn, of Shrublands, Saundersfoot, beloved husband of Gwenllian, proud father of Kevin and daughter-in-law Eleanor, proud and much loved dadcu of Tomos and Lydia. Sadly missed by family and friends.
Funeral service takes place on Tuesday, October 25, at 11.30 am, at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth. Family flowers only.
Donations in lieu, if so desired, to the Macular Society, c/o funeral directors, W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd., The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby.
MR. douglas perry
TENBY
Doug Perry passed away peacefully at Withybush Hospital on Monday, October 10. He was 90.
Doug was a fine artist and a volunteer for a great many years at Tenby Museum. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Jane. Doug was a loved and respected step-father to Victoria and Helen, Sally and Jane, Angela and Wraight, their respective spouses and 19 step-grandchildren and families.
The funeral will take place on Monday, October 24. Family and close friends at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, at 1 pm, followed by a church service at St. Mary’s Church, Tenby, at 2 pm.
There will be family flowers only, with donations, if desired, made payable to British Legion Poppy Appeal, c/o the funeral directors, Messrs. W. and M. J. Rossiter and Sons Ltd, The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby.
MRS. J. BOWEN
WHITLAND
The death occurred peacefully at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, on Tuesday, October 18, of Mrs. Joan Bowen, of St. George’s Avenue, Whitland.
Beloved wife of the late Donald, a dearly-loved mam and nanna.
At the time of going to press, funeral arrangements had not yet been finalised, further enquiries should be directed to E. C. Thomas and Son, funeral directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, who are conducting the funeral arrangements, tel. (01834) 831876.
Mrs. G. M. Lloyd
Tenby
As reported previously, the death occurred peacefully at Belvedere House Residential Care Home, Tenby, on Monday, September 26, of Mrs. Gladys Marion Lloyd, aged 96 years, formerly of Lady Park, Tenby.
A native of Cosheston, Gladys was born on July 23, 1920, to the late Tom and Sarah Williams. When Gladys left school, she went to work in Tenby and eventually moved into Waterloo House and worked for Mr. and Mrs. Phillips for many years.
Gladys was predeceased by her husband Albert in the 1970s.
Gladys resided in Lady Park with her sister Eva Williams, who passed away in November 2013. When Gladys’s health began to decline, she went into the Belvedere Home and was cared for by the staff until her passing.
When in good health, Gladys enjoyed trips out, she was a member of St. Johns Church and was an original member of the Tenby Townswomen’s Guild and entered into all their events with great enthusiasm. She loved her garden, and also enjoyed knitting and sewing.
Family left to mourn: Jeffrey and Ann (nephew and wife), Karen and Andrew (niece and husband), Susan and Peter (niece and husband), Katie (great-niece), Daniel and Katie (great-nephew and fiancée), Maureen and Jonathan (cousins), Hugh and Sue (cousin and wife), Jenny Williams (cousin), Maureen Worcester and family (cousins), Michael Griffiths (cousin).
Unable to attend were Netty (sister-in-law), Emmie (sister-in-law), Sarah (great-niece and family).
Gladys was predeceased by her sister Eva and brothers Llewellyn and Billy.
The funeral service took place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, on Wednesday, October 5.
Officiating was the Rev. Nanette Lewis-Head, while bearers were Jeffrey Williams, Andrew and Daniel Goodridge and Jonathan Griffiths.
There were family flowers only, from: Karen, Andrew and family, Susan, Peter and family, Jeffrey, Ann and family, Netty and family, Lyn, David and family.
Funeral arrangements were carried out by E. C. Thomas and Son, Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth.
MR. STEPHEN DAYE (SAM)
CLARBESTON
Suddenly on Sunday, October 16, Sam, of Stepaside Bridge, Clarbeston Road, beloved son of Beryl and the late Hywel, devoted brother of Sharon, Rosanna and the late Philip, a respected brother-in-law of Philip, a loving uncle of Sharalyn, Stephanie, Stuart, Noah and Joshua and buddy to Nicole and Isaac.
Funeral service Friday, October 28, at St. Nicholas Church, New Moat, at 2 pm, followed by interment at St. Martin of Tours Church, Clarbeston.
Family flowers only please, donations in lieu if so desired for Cancer Day Unit Appeal c/o Mrs. Rebacca Voyle, Churchlands Farm, Clarbeston, Clarbeston Road.
Further enquiries to David E. Morris and Son, Hywel Evans Funeral Directors, tel. 01267 222917 or (01834) 860439.
MRS. J. PULLEN
STEPASIDE
The death occurred peacefully at home on Monday, October 17, of Mrs. Joan Pullen, aged 93 years, of Stepaside.
Joan will be sadly missed by her family and friends.
The funeral service will take place on Friday, October 28, at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, at 2.30 pm.
There will be family flowers only, with donations for The Paul Sartori Foundation, 31 Haven Road, Haverfordwest.
The funeral arrangements are being conducted by E. C. Thomas and Son, funeral directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg.
MRS. G. JOHN
PENTLEPOIR
(formerly of Stepaside)
The death occurred peacefully at Park House Court Nursing Home, Tenby, on Monday, October 17, of Mrs. Gwyneth John (nee Scourfield), affectionately known as ‘Gwyneth the Mill,’ aged 91 years.
Gwyneth suffered a stroke three-and-a-half years ago.
Devoted wife of the late Gordon, loving mum of Stephen and partner Mary, dearly-loved sister of Gerald, much-loved aunt of Vivienne.
The funeral service will take place on Saturday, October 29, at Stepaside Methodist Chapel, Pleasant Valley, at 11 am, followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, at 12.15 pm.
There will be family flowers only, with donations, if so desired for Wales Air Ambulance and The British Heart Foundation, c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, funeral directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, who are conducting the funeral arrangements.
Mrs. E. D. Lunt
Pembroke Dock
The death occurred peacefully, at home, on Tuesday, October 18, of Mrs. Elsie Dorothy Lunt, affectionately known as Dot, aged 93 years, of Queen Street, Pembroke Dock. Dot will be dearly missed by all her family, friends and neighbours.
The funeral service will take place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, on Thursday, October 27, at 10.45 am.
There will be immediate family flowers only, with donations if so desired for The Paul Sartori Foundation, c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, funeral directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, tel. (01834) 831876, who are conducting the funeral arrangements.
Lucia Violet Secrett
Pembroke
Andrew, Elizabeth, Philip, Zoe and family acknowledge with grateful thanks donations totalling £460 received in memory of the late Lucia. The donations were given to Wales Air Ambulance and the National Deaf Children Society. Sincere thanks to Neil Roberts, of John Roberts and Son, funeral directors, for receiving the donations.