Published: Thursday, 28th May, 2009 11:00am

Reading Rep picture special

by Adam Hewitt

Comments (0) | Print | Email

Norah Pollard

IN January"s Retro we asked - Remember Reading Rep?

Well, these pictures show that lots of people certainly do. They come from Raymond West, whose wife"s late aunt Norah Pollard (pictured right) was a member in the 1930s and 1940s and kept a huge collection of photos, reviews and cuttings about the Rep.

The former Kendrick schoolgirl worked on the Great Western Railway and for the Red Cross during the Second World. After her retirement she was a prominent member of Emmer Green Townswomen"s Guild. She loved acting, and stuck with the Rep right through until its demise. She died in 1990.

In January, David Cliffe wrote: 'I was surprised to come across programmes for the Reading Repertory Company, performing at the 70 Theatre, in London Street. Research has shown that before and after the war, they performed in the Palmer Hall in West Street, but it must have been unavailable in war time. The theatre was at 70 London Street, by kind permission of A Oliver Bridges, the dentist who owned it.'

Mr West, of Bridport, Dorset, is donating the two bound photo and review albums and scores of individual photos to Mr Cliffe"s archive.

- FOR all the photos, pick up a copy of this week's paper, or order via 0118 950 3030.