A ‘WONDERFUL’ baritone who has performed on East Lancashire stages for more than 55 years has died.

Award-winning director and performer Brian Whittaker died earlier this month after an illness, aged 77.

He first took to the stage as a shy 15-year-old, but it was during national service with the RAF in Swindon, that he became aware of the showbusiness world on trips to London.

When he came home to Blackburn, he started to sing with the big band at Tony’s Ballroom where he ‘made the girls swoon’, accoring to his mother.

Daughter Susan Avenson said: “He took singing lessons, and started singing in festivals, winning many prizes for his wonderful baritone voice. In 1957, he joined Blackburn Amateurs, performed in the Vagabond King, and was hooked.

“From there he directed and performed with many local amateur theatre groups, and became one of the best known figures in Blackburn amateur dramatic and music circles.

“He often stepped in to save the day at very short notice; with Burnley Gilbert and Sullivan Society he once stood in to direct HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury with just four weeks’ notice and then also learned the part of Sir Joseph Porter with 24 hours to go until curtain up.”

Early roles included his principal debut as Ali Hakim in Oklahoma in 1958 and Jigger Craigin in Carousel the following year. His last role was as LeClerc in Blackburn Drama Club’s production of ‘Allo ‘Allo at Thwaites Empire Theatre in November.

In the early 1970s he was offered a contract with the professional D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, but decided against signing it, to be with his family.

Susan added: “The amateur world enabled him to make great use of his talents as a very versatile entertainer, performing in everything from pantomimes to opera and everything in between.

“His great love was the Savoy Operas, becoming well-known for his excellent performances in the patter roles. “He was a lovely, sensitive leading man, and also loved comic and character roles.”

Brian, a former salesman, won NODA awards for the best supporting actor in a play and in a musical, as well as the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Curtain Raiser Award for outstanding contribution to the amateur stage in 2001.

Brian leaves wife Jill, daughters Susan Avanson and Anne Whittaker Pierce, and sons-in-law Wayne Avanson and Dave Whittaker. His funeral takes place at noon tomorrow, at St Peter’s Church, Salesbury, then Pleasington Crematorium. Family flowers only, or donations to Kidney Research UK or The British Kidney Patient Association.