Harry Bedson

Mar 13 2008 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

Harry Bedson

HE WAS a spry fellow with a big baritone voice, who had seen the wobble of stage furniture, as well as the perfect recreations of Alpine valleys or cowboy saloons, as he performed on stages trod by the great, or those which creak in the small church and village halls, where tea and biscuits were served at the interval and the stapled programme named everyone in the production.

And some of that showbiz experience could be heard in the confident patter of Thomas Henry “Harry” Bedson, as he went about his daily work as a joiner in Wallasey, which has a fine tradition of amateur theatre and opera.

Harry was born and brought up in the town, the son of a Mersey ferry boat captain, Thomas, and his wife, Amy. Their home on Serpentine Road was destroyed by bombing during the war.

The mother encouraged both Harry and his sister, also Amy, in their song and dance ambitions.

Amy, who died last year, later became a ballet teacher and choreographer putting on shows at the Tower and Tivoli theatres and Vale Park.

The peak of Harry’s career came with appearances at the Liverpool Empire with the Liverpool Grand Opera Company.

At about that time, he was also serving his apprenticeship as a carpenter with Rutherford’s boatbuilders in Birkenhead.

Harry joined the Territorial Army at New Brighton Rugby Club, aged 18. Then, when the war started, he was sent to Greece with engineers to blow up bridges in advance of the German invasion. He then served in Crete and North Africa.

After the war, Harry returned to Rutherford’s. In the 1960s, he went into partnership in a joinery business with John James.

Until, and even after his stroke in 2001, Harry was a familiar figure at the Floral Pavilion Theatre, New Brighton, performing with the Chrysanthemums Pantomime Society, St Paul’s Operatic Society, the Wallasey, Moreton and Heswall Operatic Society and the Super Troupers, playing roles including Jud Fry in Oklahoma, Buttons in Cinderella and Harry Beaton in Brigadoon. In the 1950s, he had been on the TV talent show, Top Town.

Dorothy, Harry’s wife of 52 years, died in 2002, and he moved to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. They had two children, Robert and Gillian.

His funeral is at 1.30pm tomorrow at St Hilary’s Church, Wallasey.

Harry Bedson, operatic baritone; born June 19, 1921, died March 6, 2008.