BARBARAMITCHELL-DAVIDSON 26th February 1944 - 9th August 2013 Members of Prestwich AD & OS heard the very sad news in August of the passing of their dear and loved friend Barbara Mitchell-Davidson (more affectionately known as just ‘BMD’) after a very short but bravely endured illness. BMD (or even Babs) joined PADOS in 1974 for the production of Half a Sixpence and was rarely missing from successive productions. She was also a wonderful character actress in plays and pantomimes. It is fitting that in May of this year she was awarded the ‘In House’ Best Actress Trophy for her role in Calendar Girls at the Society’s Annual Awards Dinner which she sadly was not able to attend due to her early signs of illness, although this was unknown to her many devoted friends. She was noted for her outrageous costumes in pantomimes, which she very often created herself and maintained a secret until Costume Parade. This was typical; of ‘Our Babs’ who never shunned the unglamorous roles which sometimes belied her exceptional acting ability. The Society recognised BMD for her administrative work as the Society’s only Membership Secretary since the office was created in the 1970s. With her dogged work in ensuring the collection of membership subscriptions, it is doubtful anyone else could have extracted payment with so much humour. She was also a member, and at times, Chairman of the Ladies Committee and under her guidance they annually subsidised growing financial commitments. For these and much more work for PADOS, she was elected a Life Member of the Society. She was also a Life Member and Past President of our close neighbours, Whitefield AODS. Sadly the writer believes she is one of the last of the breed that believes that ‘Service Off-Stage is as important as that On-Stage – perhaps more so’. She will be hugely missed at PADOS and our sympathy is extended to her daughter and grand-daughters as well as her sister. Fred E Plant (PADOS Archivist)
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