Page 34 - L&T Alan Styler

Redditch Heritage Alan Styler

- 2005 Redditch Advertiser Archive – Wednesday 13th July 2005

Memories of an Entertainer

A REDDITCH entertainer has shared his memories of a singer who progressed
from performances in the back streets of Redditch to commanding the world's
musical stage.

Alan, son of Madge Styler, a popular singer in town operatic circles, was born in
1925 and lived in Birchfield Road, Headless Cross.

He received his singing training from well-known local voice coach Mavis Bennett
and in his teenage years would often give private performances in the Seven
Stars pub for landlady Violet Davis.

When 17, he joined the Grenadier Guards. After being demobilised in 1946 he
worked for a short time at a local electricity company and was very active on the
Redditch entertainment scene.

One of the lucky people to work with Mr Styler during his early career was
Redditch comedian Colin Wheeler.

Mr Styler appeared in a show at the Temperance Hall in Worcester Road, later
renamed the Kingfisher Hall, during which Mr Wheeler was compere.

This was no easy task for the comedian as there was a second Alan Styler on the
bill who was also a singer.

During his time at the electricity company Mr Styler made a life-changing
decision - to become a professional singer.

He joined the internationally renowned D'Oyly Carte Opera Company a year later
and started in the chorus before earning the right to play principle roles, wowing
crowds in America, Canada and Britain.

He had leading roles in HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance,
Iolanthe and many others.

Despite often being surrounded by hundreds of adoring female fans Mr Styler
chose to marry Vera Ryan, a fellow D'Oyly Carte member who was in the
company from 1959-61 and 1966-67.

Mr Wheeler said: "Although we were near neighbours he was much older than
me and we were involved in different areas of the local entertainment scene.

"I remember him as an extremely handsome man and he must have broken
many young girls' hearts when he married.

"It was obvious from an early stage that due to the rich quality of his voice he
was always destined to be a great singer."

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