‘Mum always had a smile on her face’...tribute to am-dram stalwart
THE family of a stalwart of Derby’s am-dram scene have paid a loving tribute to her following her death after a short illness.
Fay Hinchcliffe, 80, was the president of the Watson Players, which has been presenting productions in the city since 1970.
A keen dancer, Fay joined the group in 1972 and, over the years, took on the roles of choreographer, producer and director.
Her family are still closely associated with the group, with daughter Angela Barradell its vice-chair. Angela’s children, Joseph and Niamh, are also members.
Angela moved in with her mother when she fell ill and used to play her music from much-loved productions. She said: “It was lovely to be able to have that time with her. Not everybody would have that chance or opportunity to do that for their mum and I feel quite privileged and honoured that I was able to do that for her and that she wanted me to do that.
“I used to play songs from musicals like My Fair Lady and it was nice just lying on the pillow next to her and listening to ‘I could have danced all night’ and just seeing that lovely little smile on my mum’s face, just seeing it bring her happiness. It was special, they’re just memories that you can’t take away and it’ll be with me forever.”
Angela said Fay was incredibly family-orientated and will be “leaving a gap that will never be filled”. She added that she would be remembered as always having “a smile on her face for anyone and everybody”.
Fay worked with several amateur dramatics societies in Derby, but dedicated most of her time to the Watson Players. Angela said:
“We grew up with it.”
Gina Repton, a friend of Fay’s and a member of the Watson Players, said Fay was one of the reasons she joined the group in 1984.
She said: “I went to see Red Riding Hood at the Guildhall Theatre. It was a pantomime she directed and did the choreography for and I just remember being so impressed by the professionalism of the panto and I thought I’d love to be a part of this.”
Alongside producing and directing, Fay was well known as the best prompt in the Watson Players and was described by Gina as having a “sixth-sense” for when people needed help. She described Fay as the group’s “matriarch”.
Since going into lockdown, the Watson Players have had weekly quizzes, but have not held one since Fay’s death to honour her memory.
Gina said: “It’s going to be really weird when we have our next one and I’m dreading the day we return to rehearsals and Fay won’t be there to ask you how you are.” Gina’s husband, Aidan Repton, the group’s chairman, said: “Fay had various roles over the years, she was one of our longest-standing members. She became president in 2003 and she’s helped me so much in the subsequent years.”
As part of her work with the group, in 2019 Fay won the Eagle Award for Exceptional Contributions to Amateur Theatre. The Eagle Awards are presented by Derby Theatre to celebrate the work of the city’s vibrant amateur dramatics community.
On the same night, the Watson Players received an award for best production of a pantomime. Fay’s granddaughter Niamh did the choreography for the show, Dick Whittington. Aidan said: “The Watson Players meant a great deal to her. It was a huge part of her life. She knew so many people in the amateur dramatic world in Derby. She got great happiness out of everything she did in amateur dramatics.”
Fay, an only child of her parents
Violet and Lawrence, grew up in Parker Street in Derby’s West End.
She and her first husband, Keith, lived in Quarndon, then moved to Horsley Woodhouse when they had their children Anthony and Angela. Keith died in 1986, after which Fay and her children lived in Stanley Common. Eventually, Fay met her second husband, John, and the couple moved to West Hallam.
Due to current restrictions, a private funeral will take place on Thursday at Markeaton Crematorium at noon. Angela told the Derby Telegraph that links for the service had been sent to the groups her mother was associated with so that her many friends could attend virtually.
When restrictions have been lifted, the Watson Players are planning to put on an evening to celebrate Fay’s life.
I used to play songs from musicals like My Fair Lady while lying next to her.
Angela Barradell