We have just heard the sad news of the death of Bernardine Palomeque. In her maiden name of Stoyle she appeared in the first play at the Barn after the outbreak of the war, for the Welwyn Drama Club, in November 1939, and managed to play Lady Teazle in The School for Scandal in April 1940 just before the theatre was closed for the duration.

She resumed her stage appearances in 1947 and was a regular performer with the Drama Club from then until the formation of the Barn Theatre Club in 1969, also directing main house and festival plays. Highlights included Amanda Wingfield in Eric Farlie’s 1959 production of The Glass Menagerie, and two parts for which, with her tall and elegant bearing and beautiful spoken word she was ideal; the Reverend Mother in A Letter for the General, directed by Ron Jolly in 1965, and Lady Lurewell in The Constant Couple in 1971 for the Barn. She appeared in the last play performed by the Drama Club in 1969, and in two plays in the first season of the newly formed Barn Theatre Club. In the latter part of this period, she played in her married name of Bradshaw.

After the death of her husband Derek, who was also a Barn backstage regular, she married Carlos Palomeque and they spent much of their time travelling on adventurous holidays, so regretfully we saw less of her at the Barn. She did, however, triumph at the Minack Theatre for the Hertfordshire Players in 1974 as the dominant evil millionairess, Clare Zachanassian, in Durenmatt’s The Visit, and made one more memorable appearance for the Barn as the Abbess in the 1985 Festival winner Abelard and Heloise.

Disabled by failing sight in her later years she nonetheless kept in touch with many of her Barn friends from her home in Stevenage.

We offer our condolences to her family and friends.