Ray Hopper writes in the Wick Newsletter December 17
” It is a well known story within the company that two members of the Southwick Players, Peter Elder
and Molly Penney, encouraged the formation of the company nearly 70 years ago.
Less well known is that other members of the Players were also very encouraging, and amongst these was Muriel Press, who directed our sixth production in July 1952, the comedy Mountain Air, by Ronald Wilkinson. This would have been just before she started her family, with husband Jack, producing two sons, David and Michael.
I was the sole Wick representative attending her splendidly organised funeral service, along with
many old friends from the Players, of which Muriel was President for a number of years.
I was a family friend for many years, having played hockey with Jack, David and Michael, and learnt all
about theatrical photography from Jack and Muriel, who were both keen photographers and active
members of Southwick Camera Club.
Muriel was born in Liverpool, but moved to Southwick at the beginning of the war, spending
the rest of her life in the area, being actively involved with many organisations.
She was the longest serving member of the Players, having joined in 1948, and enjoying an early
success as Lydia, in a version of Pride ond Prejudice, which reached the National Finals in 1949.
She appears not to have directed again after her Young Wick experience!
It was a privilege to know this lovely lady.”
[The Southwick Players Archive has much more on Muriel’s stage-work]