Pickering Musical Society is to pay tribute to the stage career of their longest serving life member.

Sylvia Allanson passed away late last year after a short illness.

The concert “Summer Song”, at the Kirk Theatre, will feature members of the Society performing songs from the shows and concerts Sylvia performed in over her stage career, along with dancers from Kirkham Henry Performing Arts Centre.

Luke Arnold, theatre manager, said: "The name Sylvia Allanson (nee Frank) is legendary in Pickering and the surrounding area, as Sylvia performed with Pickering Musical Society for over sixty years, taking the leading roles in many of the society’s pantomimes, musicals and operettas from the 1940s to the 1990s.

"Sylvia was born and bred in Pickering and began performing at an early age, as one of the junior, and then senior, dancers in the annual Christmas pantomime.

"As she grew older, Sylvia became the senior ballet mistress and performed solo onstage, before moving on to take the leading principal roles.

Luke said: "This is where her stage career began, and where she was noticed and offered a place at the Windmill Theatre in London.

"However, Sylvia’s parents flatly refused to allow their young daughter to enter the uncertain and potentially dangerous world of show business so far from home. "

Luke added: "The Windmill’s loss was Pickering’s gain, and Sylvia performed almost continually through six decades in many shows such as The Merry Widow, Calamity Jane, South Pacific and The Sound of Music.

"As the years took their toll on her health, Sylvia retired from performing but always took an interest in the affairs of the Pickering Musical Society and the Kirk Theatre.

"The centenary of the Society in 2019 brought the curtain down on her long and illustrious career on the amateur stage.

"A fitting postscript came when she gave the address to a packed theatre as the longest serving member.

"Sylvia was enormously proud to relate the history and the memorable shows that gave such pleasure through the years, once again receiving a standing ovation from a truly grateful audience.

"Due to the Covid pandemic, the society was not able to pay tribute to Sylvia last year, and this will be their opportunity to celebrate a remarkable lifetime of performance."

"Many members of the audience will remember her performances and we hope that it will be an opportunity for past members of the society, friends and patrons to come together and share their stories of Sylvia and Pickering Musical Society."

The concert will take place on Saturday, July, 9, at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £10 and are available online at kirktheatre.co.uk or via the box office on 01751 474833.