News and Events
PRESS RELEASE: ABTT Pays Tribute to Ivor Dykes
9th May 2013
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The ABTT took the
opportunity of last week's PLASA Focus Show to pay tribute to Ivor Dykes, in
recognition of his longstanding contribution to ABTT NorthNet, upon his
retirement as the committee's Honorary Secretary.
Ivor's initial career began as an apprentice organ builder in Leeds. In the
late 1950s he worked at London's Selfridges store as a television repairman
whilst volunteering at the Questors Theatre in Ealing and the Theatre Royal
Stratford East.
This lead to a formal role with Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop Company as
its theatre engineer, working alongside Gerry Raffles and John Bury, amongst
many others.
During his time with the company, Ivor researched and produced the original
glass slides used for the inaugural production of O What a Lovely War,
sourced from images held at the Imperial War Museum. These slides, now
digitised, are - some fifty years later - still being used and credited to him
in the latest touring revival of this iconic show.
He has also acted and a programme for the Leeds Cellar Theatre Workshop
promoting An Elizabethan Evening of Music and Drama still exists,
crediting amongst the Players and Minstrels Mr Ivor Dykes, together with a Mr
Peter O'Toole.
Ivor's final professional employment was as Lancaster University's Studio
Theatre technician, where he remained until retirement.
He will continue to be associated with ABTT NorthNet, but now, at that age of
89, has chosen to devote more time in support of his district Elderly Aged
group and to his local park and heritage railway.
ends
Picture, left to right :
Bob Morgan representing ABTT NorthNet, ABTT Chairman Mark White with
Ivor Dykes and Opera North's Operations and Technical Director Ric Green
Picture Credit :
Vernon Blades
Caption :
Ivor Dykes receives an engraved Glass Rose Bowl from the ABTT and a special
Spanner Award from ABTT NorthNet, in recognition of his longstanding
contribution to the Association's northern committee
