On the trail of the South Shields Mounties

There's been a great deal of interest in our articles on South Shields Amateur Operatic Society.
South Shields Gazette Memory Lane  Novembr 1965  no old ref number  Amateur dramatics  operatic  Some of the Mounties from Rose Marie.South Shields Gazette Memory Lane  Novembr 1965  no old ref number  Amateur dramatics  operatic  Some of the Mounties from Rose Marie.
South Shields Gazette Memory Lane Novembr 1965 no old ref number Amateur dramatics operatic Some of the Mounties from Rose Marie.

One of those who got in touch was Peter W Skevington, who wrote: “I have enjoyed your features on the SSAOS.

“I notice that another Peter, Peter Charlton, is well featured.

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“He is the very handsome guy with the moustache, a leading man par excellence and talented singer.

“Ron Kemp too, sadly deceased now, he too was a much-sought-after leading man.

“This Peter played ‘heavies’ - Big Jule in Guys and Dolls and Officer Krupke in West Side Story being two.

“I am one of the characters in the colour photo of a production of Sound Of Music, the big be-suited guy wearing a Nazi armband.

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“I remember all of those photographed alongside me - some are still active.

“Maurice Powell lives locally, so occasionally our paths cross.

“I also trod the boards with the G&S, but my main society was the SSAOS, and I served on the committee for a number of years too.

“Favourite producer was Fred Wharton, still active with the Durham AOS, who perform at The Gala Theatre.

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“Fred was an exacting man, but the most well-organised of people and a great manager of productions.

“Worth checking out the professional careers of youngsters like Dale Meeks and Helen Gavin (now French) who were nurtured by the society then went on to notable professional careers.”

Staying with the Amateur Operatic Society, does anyone recognise any of the Mounties in our picture from the production of Rose Marie in November 1965.