REMO Players - home page

The REMO ( Railway Executive Managers Office) players were a Wolverhampton Based Amateur Dramatic Society, affilliated to the Wolverhampton and District Drama Federation.

This page construction was started in 2003 and gets updated when I receive new information and am not working on my other sites. I was a member from 1969 to 1979 so most of this page is related to that period.

I was recruited as a REMO member by Walter Jones, having been involved with the St Peters Church Players which he led.

If any ex Members have any pictures or memories they want to share or see displayed, please send me copies.

I recently received an email from an ex REMO player, Terry Saunders Fern, which I have reproduced below.

Hi Bob I recently typed my name into ‘Google’ just to make sure that I hadn’t passed away and came across your ‘Remo player’ site. Must admit I was quite taken aback to see a picture of myself which must have been taken when I was about 15/16. My name is Terry Saunders-Fern and I spent many happy years with the Remo players in the early sixties. Your web site bought back very happy memories of those halcyon days. I was introduced to the society by my mother Hazel (who sadly passed away some 5 years ago) and worked for British rail in those days. I was taught to play table tennis by Ron Wilcocks and Laurie Foster and I used to do a very accurate impersonation of Walter Jones shouting ‘When you’ve finished with your cups take them back to the tea bar’ I seem to recall that Laurie and I also used to do a double act of Pete and Dud in the Sir Tatton and Sykes after rehearsals. Another former member, Jim Bodley and myself took ourselves off and hitch-hiked across France and Spain for a few months in the early sixties. I believe Jim later went on to Israel. On my return to the UK I went to work at Butlins in Skegness and made my career with the company eventually moving to Bognor Regis head office where I remained until 2001. I have now retired and live in Nottinghamshire near Retford. It was such a wonderful trip down memory lane to see all those pictures of the wonderful people from my past especially the lovely Jackie Humphrey, Pat Cooper and Janet Moulton. And who could ever forget the vivacious Pat Hancock. I think your unidentified photo number 22 is that of Lawrence Swain. I hope you will publish this on the web site and I would love to hear from any old friends from those days. My email is:

I have attached a more recent photo just to show that I have not changed one jot! Regards T J W Saunders-Fern

Charles Dickens published a series of articles on Dublin in 1853 in his magazine 'Household Words'. Here, former REMO player and renowned theatre actor Laurence Foster brings alive an article on The Coombe in a Dickensian style (based on Dicken's performance style). Click here to view it.

I have added details of the 1976 Play - "Rumpelstiltskin", with photos from Doug Cresswell. Check it out via The Plays button above.

As a result of an email from Paul Davies, I have added details of the 1979 Play - "The man most likely to". check it out via The Plays button above.

I have started to rebuild the site to include more details on individual plays which will include cast and crew and photos where possible, while I am doing this some links may ocassionally fail or lead to incomplete pages. Please advise if you have any problems accessing or viewing these pages.

I have receved another collection of Photographs which I will be adding to the page when I have the time. I may have to change the layout slightly to accommodate them all, so please be patient, as I am going on holiday first.

I was really pleased to greet Kate Parton (Kate Powell) and husband Dave, after 31 years since we last saw them when they called at our house in Paignton today.


Dave, Kate, Glynis and Bob in Paignton 2010	Kate, Dave, Glynis and Bob in Paignton 2010

Glynis and Dave 1970's	Kate and Bob 1970's Party

I have put a page of photos of REMO players that I don't know (or can't remember) on the site. If anyone can help to ID them then please email me.

I still have quite a few photos of plays to sort out and I may get more soon from another ex member.

Dave Mobley sent me a whole box of Photos, to be sorted. There are quite a few un-identified persons which I have put on the site anyway, so if anyone can help please email me. The players list now includes photos for a lot of the players, apologies for the gaps.

Dave Mobley un-earthed a Photo from Robin Hood, which I am on. I have added it in the list of plays below.

December 15th 2009 .... Today would have been the 60th Birthday of ex REMO Player Elaine Brindley (nee Hill), had she not died in 1998 at the early age of 49 after contracting breast cancer. RIP Elaine, a good friend.

Linda Croston (Cotterill) tells me that she is in "Red Riding Hood" at the Lace Market Theatre in Nottingham this week, click here for more details.

I have an update from Dave Mobley, who says "As for myself I am still slogging away.I may have told you that I did a day on "Hustle" on the 11th September last, starring Napoleon Solo himself Mr Robert Vaughan. I thought at the time how nice it was for him to meet me in the flesh. Then on 19th of November I did another little cameo as a Nosy Neighbour and as a Taxi Driver in "Doctors" for the BBC. It`s not much but every little helps and I have just asked my agent to put me forward for a days extra work in a Supermarket Commercial somewhere in Brum on the 14th this month."

1) Alan retired last Xmas (600 made redundant, including Alan, but brilliant timing for him, as was retiring anyway; moved manufacturing to Dalian in China) but, worked 3 months in Thailand (May-July)for old E/r(Goodyear), and leaving for China shortly for a few weeks work. I visit at the end for a holiday!

2) Both just returned from tour holiday of Rajasthan in India - 21 days ;totally amazing but very full-on and tiring.

3) Prior to India, our new apartment finally finished in an Old Factory (a big project of appts and town houses)in the inner city. In process of moving there, but keeping our tiny flat/with garden, in Williamstown, for our "holiday home" (as it's so pretty here; only 15 km from city, with beach etc.

5) Coming over to UK for about 3 months @ end April next year - hope go Europe etc. Hope to catch up with some "old" Remo players. (yes Jayne - we're all getting older)

6) I now work 2 days week (keeps brain active) and write poems (sometimes perform them)and stories; sing in Willin Wimin, and hope to return to drawing and painting.

I have had contact this month from Julie Maurice, she was Julie Rollason when she joined REMO. Julie has press cuttings and photos from Sleeping Beauty and Pygmalion, a Rule book (I particulary liked rule 11, I think it adds professionalism to performances by amateur groups.), and a few memories of other plays and players which I have started to incorporate in the site. Thanks for sharing them with us, Julie.

Cast list for 'Flat Spin' (1976) and Sleeping Beauty (1973) have been added to Site

Remo Rule book (supplied by Julie Maurice - nee Rollason) Click on the cover for details:

I have also heard from Dave Mobley, he has been to Dublin to see Laurence Foster performing his 'Dickens in Dublin' Show. It was the first time in over forty years that these two ex-REMO members had met.

Linda Croston contacted me with the sad news that her Mother Floss Cotterill has died after an operation following a fall at her retirement home. Floss was a valued member of REMO for a number of years, appearing on Stage in the Award Winning play "Rain" and also in "Pygmalion". Floss was also our resident teamaker. Our condolences to Linda.

Linda Croston (nee Cotterill) has been in a recent musical show in Nottingham entitled Mod Crop Click here for details

June Mcmullen, nee Lowe contacted me to advise she was in Little Women in 1970, but did not stay with REMO very long.

Dave Mobley returns to BBC TV, appearing in an Episode of the Doctors set in an old peoples home, where he is attempting to escape from the home.

I sent an old photo of Paul Davies to him and in return I got a few from the 2006 reunion mentioned below. Click here for details.

Dave Mobley advises me that, after a long break, he has recently returned to acting for the BBC and will soon be seen in an episode of Doctors. (and is available for other work, email me if you wish to contact Dave)

Glynis appeared in a performance of '1984' in October 2008 and 'Katherine Howard' in December 2008 and has been involved backstage with a number of plays this year. Click here for details.

Will Morgan appears to be still performing in Folk Venues, getting rave reviews for recent performances of Jake Thakray songs which may be released on a CD in the new year.

I have now moved to Paignton and the web site which was off line during the move, is now back. If anyone has any pictures that could be added to the site then please send them to me.

Recently found - a rare autographed program from the 1972 production of Robin Hood. Click on the cover for details:

Dear Bob

We were extremely sad and sorry to hear about Iris's death - it has brought up a lot of lovely old memories of good times past, when Alan and I were in Remo - but left to live in Luxembourg back in 1978, and then Sydney Australia in 1985 - moving to Melbourne in 1990.

Iris and Ron were almost surrogate parents to me when I joined Remo when I was 22 and very "green". When I married Alan (1974) it was "marry me, marry my drama group" - so he joined the "family" as a lighting technician, and then trod the boards - culminating in playing "Counselor Helliwell". My most inglorious moment was almost being dropped by Dougie Cresswell, as Heathcliff, when he had to stagger up the stairs with "Catherine" in Wuthering Heights - was he ever the same again, I wonder??

We will, all being well, be in UK in December 2006, and intend to be around Wolverhampton area (staying at Wightwick with my sister) from around 19th Dec until we leave on 29th Dec (my mother is still "going strong" - to be 96 in January - she always loved seeing the plays). Janet Moulton is going to try and arrange a get-together for those interested, which would be great.

Update Nov 2008 - Paul Davies has sent a few pictures from the reunion meeting, Click here to view them

Neither of us do any theatre work any more (not for many years), but I (Jayne) sing in "Willin Wimmin" a-cappella choir (blues, spiritual, folk, activist - around the world), which is great fun, and my little bit of performance art. Our son, Ben, born in Luxembourg, is now 25, and he loved drama at school. As a child, his favourite photo of Alan was as the king in Rumpelstiltskin (back in the later 70's!).

November 2005 - Dave Mobley has send a bunch of Photos which I have started to add as I scan them in.

October 2005 - Added a few new photos, started list of Plays I was involved with.

May 2005 - Dave Mobley contacted me, he's still in occasional contact with 'Gudge' and reminded me of Jackie's correct name. Theres a picture of Dave in an article about "The Incredible Robert Baldick" a BBC TV program he was in with Robert Hardy at this site

Cast List for "The incredible Robert Baldick." filmed on and around the Severn Valley Railway

April 2005 - Contact from Laurence Foster, Member from 1960 to 1966, has been head of Drama for Irish National Radio Station, RTE for a while since then, and is still a professional actor/director.

Nov 2004 - If anyone knows the whereabouts of Doug Cresswell, an old friend of his, called Jeff, would like to contact him.

Sept 2004 - Alan Hepworth emailed from Australia to remind me to add his wife Jayne to the members list. I don't know how I left her off as I had photos of her in REMO Plays.

The REMO players rehearsed at a number of venues, one being the old railway goods depot on the Wednesfield Road now demolished to make way for the Royal Mail building.

In addition to two or three plays per year or the occasional Pantomime they would have social events and outings.

After rehearsals many of the players would retire to the local pub (The Sir Tatton Sykes) for a nightcap before going home.

Some of the members of the REMO players can be found listed at the Friends Reunited site.

It is my intention to try and add a few names and pictures below as soon as time permits. this will be from when I was involved between 1969 (Picnic) and 1979.

Watch this space for Pictures. Apologies for the poor quality, but they are taken from my 30 year old Colour transparencies.


Flat Spin (Spring 1976), Pictured are Tony Pettit, Will Morgan, Jayne Smith and Mike Neal	Scene from 'When we are married'

A few of the members pose for a picture on a day trip to Wales Dave Mobley, Norman Bishop, Val, Mary Doughty, Janet Moulton, Ron Wilcocks, Dorothy Tame (my sister), Kate, Glynis.	Will Morgan and Jayne Smith (Hepworth) in a Scene from 'The Italian Girl' produced by Norman Bishop

Remo Players with the Trophy presented by Wolverhampton and District Drama Federation for the "Best Set" Award, unfortunately it is being held upside down!	Glynis Tame (nee Evans)in "Separate Tables" (possibly)

Remo Players "Happiest days of your life"	Liz, Floss and Glynis are the natives, in "RAIN"

Laurence Foster in 1965	And in his one man show "Dickens in Dublin" in 2007-2008

Our plays were adjudicated by Mr Steele, a former teacher at the WMGS, click here for more info.

In 1977 Mr Roy Steel - former Adjudicator for the Wolverhampton and District Drama Federation became our president.

The Plays		Photos		The Players
More Photos		Unknown Players		Extra Photos


Laurence Foster during his one man show	Dave Mobley and his wife meet Laurence after the show

The REMO Players