Mark died in the first week of June. He had been battling with a troublesome illness for some time.

His involvement as a Barn member was in two spells. From 2002 until 2005 he appeared in six plays, most notably as Philip Grimshaw in All in Vein (2002), The Boss in Of Mice and Men (2004) and Crabtree in ’Allo ’Allo! (2005). He also tried his hand as a Stage Manager for Over the River and Through the Woods.

Mark had been in the police service since 1976, retiring as a Chief Inspector (Traffic – M1 and M25 mostly) after a two-year secondment to Bermuda in a training role. While in the Force he ran a disco, Skidmark, and excelled as a DJ.

He reappears in the archives in 2014, as Production Manager for The Accrington Pals, then in 2017 playing three parts in One Man, Two Guvnors, and a small part in A Chorus of Disapproval. His last production was managing Kindertransport last year.

A tall, commanding figure with a strong voice, Mark was at his best in roles requiring a ‘presence’. Offstage he was good company, and often helped out behind the bar.

We offer our condolences to his family, to his children Sarah and Benjie, and to his many friends at the Barn.

We shall miss him, both as a friend and a valued contributor to our productions.