Twelve dames of Christmas

Published Wednesday 27 December 2006 at 09:55

Mark Ritchie’s ‘There’s nothing like these dames’, paying homage to his top ten of his favourite dames (page 31, November 30) was, in my opinion spot on. However with Christmas upon us, could he of not included two more of this country top dames, to make it ‘the 12 dames of Christmas’.

Two more I think that should be included are Johnny Dallas, now in retirement, who was one of Britain’s greatest dames. Johnny learnt his skill from such names as Shaun Glenville and George Lacy. Johnny was a traditional dame who always brought his dame to life on stage.

The second dame that I think should be included is Aubrey Phillips, again now in retirement. He played dame Martha in his long-touring pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and in the sixties, seventies and eighties played just about every town and city to great reviews. I have seen Aubrey on several occasions playing the dame - he had great comic timing, he could spoon-feed the kids with traditional patter and at the same time, drop some sharp and wickedly funny asides for the benefit of the grown ups. If his pantomime dame was calculated by the decibel count he generated, he must of been ranked of one of Britain’s top dames.

Kevin Langford

Hodgecroft

Much Wenlock

Shropshire