Colin Wheeler Remembers…….Another Time

At another time Tommy Trinder came, this time there were 60 of us in the stalls, I again counted them, it was pathetic to see such a great comedian who had gone well past his best telling the same joke twice.  I joined him afterwards in the circle bar, he surprised everyone by ordering a pot of tea, he was a well known teatotaller.

In recent years I was asked by Councillor Joan Tyers to compere a variety show, she said she was going to ask a star to head the bill.  She phoned Frank Carson who at the time was living in Ireland, but when she mention it was in aid of the charity Rowan, he said he had retired and so was unable to help. The following year I saw him at the theatre in Babbacome and of course he has appeared at the Palace since then.

Later came manager Edward Willis, an actor, a former product of RADA who had ideas of uplifting the tastes of Redditch audiences, with professional productions, unfortunately it did not result in putting bums on seats, although he did arrange a series of popular Sunday night shows along with a number of other successful events.