OAST THEATRE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Honorary Secretary
- Committee Members
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Playgroup Representative
Members and friends and all visitors to the Oast Theatre have been saddened to hear of the passing, on 4th July, of George Kirk.
George had been involved in many guises with our theatre since the 1960s - indeed he was the Chairman when we purchased our wonderful oast house home and was much involved in the planning and early execution of the conversion from a derelict farm building into the theatre we love so much. Over the years the building has been modified and extended so that now it bears only superficial resemblance to the redundant hop drying kiln that it was when George and his Committee had the vision and audacity to make the decision to purchase it with a view to making a theatre rise from the derelict hulk.
George was, over the last 50 years, one of the most respected of our actors who always brought a spark of believability to the roles he played. Even in the early difficult days when financial constraints meant that staging and the scenery were sometimes rudimentary, his characterisations and use of his costumes and props were thoroughly thought through and presented in a manner that enabled audiences to imagine that it really was his character speaking and not just ‘good old George' delivering a few lines.
For me his roles as "Sir" in "The Dresser", "Sir Tristram" in "Dandy Dick", "Norman" in "On Golden Pond" and "Henri" in "Heroes" stand out in my memory, but there were, of course, many more and I'm sure we all have our favourites.
Apart from his stage appearances, George played a full part behind the scenes, acting as our legal counsel when we had difficult or awkward decisions to make or were struggling with officialdom, and always gave his time willingly to present us with a clear idea of the best way forward.
He was an almost ever-present cleaner and recycling man on ‘Wednesday worker' morning sessions, cheerfully clearing up other folks' mess and thoughtlessness. He supported his wife Lee and her maintenance team and together they made the whole premises sparkle.
Away from the theatre George had a professional life as a solicitor - one of his better known clients being the Rugby Football Union at Twickenham, and he was a member of the Worshipful Company of Salters, serving them as a warden for some years and eventually as Master of the Company. During his tenure of this prestigious office he arranged for several groups of Oast Theatre members to visit the Company's Hall at London Wall for tours and teas and to marvel at their collection of silverware.
George will be remembered as a fine actor, a willing worker, a wise advisor, and most of all as a lovely, unassuming gentleman. We send Lee our heartfelt condolences at this sad time and we know that George's legacy will be the love and appreciation of thousands of Tonbridge people for the fabric of our super theatre.
Following a most unfortunate road accident just yards from his house on Thursday 19th December 2013, George died in hospital on 23rd December without having regained consciousness. There will be a Memorial Service celebrating George's life at St. Mary's Church, Hadlow at 11.00 am on Saturday, 1st February and afterwards at Hadlow Manor Hotel.
George was a fine actor, equally at home in comedy roles as well as serious drama, with a deep knowledge and love of the theatre. He was one of the few remaining long-serving members of TTAC, having joined in the early 1950s. He served as Chairman, oversaw the registration of TTAC as a charity and was Honorary Treasurer in the run-up to the acquisition of the Oast in 1972 and its conversion and opening as the Oast Theatre in 1974, in all of which he was deeply involved. He remained so in the years that followed, and for some long time he has dealt with the procurement of scripts and performing rights for all the plays annually performed at the theatre.
George will be greatly missed as a devoted supporter of the Theatre, for his acting skills, but above all for his friendship and wise counsel.
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Youth Director
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Wardrobe Representative
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Vice Chairman & Website Co - Ordinator
It is with great sadness that I write of the death of a good friend and neighbour, Margaret Clements. She had been fighting a heart condition for several years and passed away in the Hospice in the Weald on September 15th 2014.
Margaret and her husband Malcolm started helping with the bar at The Oast in the early 90s after running the bar for LAMPS rehearsals at The Old Tonbridge Rugby Club. She also helped selling programmes for LAMPS and TWODS for many years and then also at The Oast.
Margaret and Malcolm took over the running of The Oast bar in 1993 and ran it for 20 years, only retiring last year due to her ill health. Margaret's only regret over this time was that each year the bar seemed to get higher! She used to help with the catering for various events put on at the theatre and made a wicked bread pudding, as anyone who had the good fortune to sample it would agree.
Margaret was a fanatical knitter and a member of the Hadlow Sewing Group. She always had a pair of knitting needles in her hand any spare moment that she had. She made blankets for the Cottage Hospital, hats and scarves for deep sea fishermen and baby clothes for the premature baby unit.
She gave a great deal of support to The Oast over many years and will be sadly missed.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Committee Members
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Membership Secretary
- Committee Members
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Director
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Committee Members
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Head of Drama
- Member of Committee
It's not so much Uncle Elwood who is the problem. After all, one more drink just makes him the more kindly, more mellow. But it's Elwood's imaginary 'friend', Harvey, a seven foot rabbit, that causes all the trouble. His neurotic sister, Veta Louise, decides that Elwood has to be committed to an institution, along with his 'friend'. And, of course, the administration of Elwood's very considerable estate must be placed in more responsible hands.
Job Titles:
- Committee Members
- Member of Committee