Joan died at the end of August. She had been a member for over 40 years, her first appearance here being in 1970, and her debut as a director for us being with Barefoot in the Park in 1971. Although she played a wide range of character roles her forte was as a director, and she made a strong impression with an excellent production of The Miracle Worker in 1972. During the 1970s her work included The Diary of Anne Frank in 1973 and a hugely enjoyable review of World War Two material and music, Put That Light Out, compiled and written by her friend, the late John Gardiner.

At that time the Club was only entering the Welwyn Drama Festival with its one-act offerings, but Joan’s effort and enthusiasm took us into the All-England Festival with the unlikely piece Willow, Woe is Me, a verse play about cricket. It won the All-England prize at Stockport and the All-Winners Festival at Fleetwood. This success began a period of Barn entries in the national competitions which led to other award-winning productions by other directors for the Club, and Joan must take some credit for beginning this involvement.

Later full-length efforts by Joan included Daisy Pulls it Off (1991), September in the Rain, (2003) and Comic Potential (2006), and her last production was Blood Brothers in 2010. She continued to work as a prompt until 2014.

With a detailed theatrical knowledge and an appetite for hard work, Joan was a tough taskmaster but these qualities ensured that her work here generated a long run of successful productions. Her late husband John was often involved as a set builder and designer.

We send our condolences to their son Adam and her family and friends.