... Stephen Barry Paul lies writes: Stephen Barry, the accomplished, versatile and esteemed head of six theatre managements, died aged 55, on October 18, in Edinburgh. Since 1997, he had been general manager and chief executive of the Festival and King's Theatres. Born in London his mother was an actress at the Old Vic and his father, Sir Gerald Barry, was the wartime editor of the News Chronicle ...

... LAWRENCE DAVIDSON Veteran character actor Lawrence Davidson, who died on October 14, had a long career both on stage in the West End and in television cameo roles. Originally trained at RADA, he was fluent in French, and at the start of his career worked mainly in rep ertory, having completed sev eral seasons at the Connaught, Worthing and also in Dundee. In the West End he worked for the ...

... JOHN HALL Actor, composer and teacher John Hall, who died recently aged 56, first came to notice in the popular television series Whack- Oh!, starring Jimmy Edwards as a blustering, incompetent head master. Hall played the mischie vous Taplow from 1956 to 1960, and was also seen in several other programmes around that time, including Z-Cars. He was born in Haywards Heath, Sussex, on August 23, ...

... JOAN MATHESON An actress who lived her life with tenacity, energy and intensity of feeling, whether it was moved by tragedy or comedy, Joan Matheson has died at the age of 90. Her father was marine super intendent of the Cunard Shipping Line, and Matheson, together with her two sisters, was brought up in Blackheath. In 1926, she won a scholar ship to RADA, graduating two years later with the ...

... LEONARD AUSTIN Circus performer Leonard Austin died of cancer on December 7, aged 85. Known to generations of circusgoers in Britain and Europe as 'Spider Austin' because of his tall, thin frame, he was a kindly, talented performer, with a dry sense of humour and a light, droll make-up. Austin was the second son of the Victorian white- face clown, Albert 'Bandbox' Austin, and his mother was ...

... BENNY PALMER Theatrical agent Benny Palmer, who died on December 25, was one of the busiest members of his profession. At the height of his success, he had more than 100 artists on his books all of whom worked regularly. Based at Hornchurch, in Essex, Palmer had the somewhat bizarre nickname King of the Stags, and it was in the raunchy and male-dominated nightclub world that he reigned supreme ...

... DAPHNE DARE Daphne Dare, who died recently aged 71, was an extremely versatile costume designer who forged two important partnerships during her lifetime with actor/ director Robin Phillips and film director Ken Loach. She was bom in Yeovil, Somerset, and after studying at the Bath Academy of Art, began to learn her trade at the Birmingham Repertory Company and Bristol Old Vic. While at ...

... DOROTHEA ALEXANDER Dorothea Alexander, who died on June 20, seemed to retain the whole of 20th century history in her head, not least because her own life was such a reflection of it. To a younger generation she felt like a link to a civilisation that was practically gone and yet always seemed to have her feet firmly planted in the present. She was an actress and teacher whose life spanned ...

... LOUIS PARKER Louis Parker, who died suddenly at the age of 49 on January 27, was a showman and flamboyant entrepreneur who steered the course of a number of music acts to fame. A familiar figure on the North Wales entertainment scene, he began his career by managing nightclubs and promoting talent shows in the local theatres. In the seventies he ran the famous Stables Nightclub, outside Rhyl, ...

... PHIUP JONES Philip Jones, OBE, CBE died from cancer late on January 17, at the age of 71. A trustee of the Musicians Benevolent Fund for eight years, Philip had been deputy chairman from 1993, succeeding Sir Ian Hunter as chairman in 1996. He was also a member and subse quently chairman of the awards and trusts committee from 1988. During his career as an orchestral musician, Philip held most ...

... HOPE JACKMAN Actress Hope Jackman, a total professional in her work and with a good record of theatrical roles both in the UK and overseas, has died in hospital in London. She was in her mid-seventies. She had appeared in Follies in the West End and was with Harry Secombe in Oliver!, playing Mrs Bumble. She went with Oliver! to the USA, and also worked in London. Known to friends and ...

... JEAN PRITCHARD Jean Pritchard, who died on December 25, aged 72, was a theatre enthusiast in every sense of the word. She loved the company of actors, writers, directors and musicians. Many will have reason to be grateful to her, even though they may have forgotten her name, for it has been almost 30 years since she ran the Little Theatre Club, a tiny attic approached by an outside staircase ...