Glamorous star Dorothy Spencer talks music, lights and drama

“He had the most beautiful voice. It’s what attracted me to him,” she says of Clifford who passed away three years ago. “I miss him terribly and whenever I get down and want to hear him I play the recordings I have of him singing and a video from one of the shows, so I can see him.

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“When I go to church on Sunday morning, I go in two minds. I go because he’s still there and then I get upset because he’s not there singing and I want to hear his voice. He had a big presence which is sorely missed.”

Clifford left school at 14 and worked as a solicitor’s clerk until joining the Army towards the end of the Second World War. A stomach ulcer cut short his stint as a trainee officer and, on his return, he went into industry where he became the managing director of Reedley packaging company IMS.

Dame Dorothy, as she is affectionately known among amateur thespians, and Clifford were a double act on the Burnley stage and music scene. He received an award for 70 years’ service to St Stephen’s Church choir and was known as Mr Garrick due to his unfaltering dedication to Burnley Garrick Club, where he had been president.

In 1949 Dorothy was being courted by a young soldier who was in the medical corps. So when Clifford asked her out she had to make a tough decision. She chose the man with the beautiful tenor voice who made her heart sing. They were married one year later at St Stephen’s.

“We couldn’t get married any earlier because Clifford was doing a show,” she laughs.

And when they adopted a six-week-old boy, Simon, Dorothy was literally left holding the baby because Clifford was in rehearsal for Desert Song with Burnley Light Opera.

“I was left with this tiny baby, but I didn’t mind a bit,” she says. “It’s been theatre all the way for us. But it’s also been wonderful. You’re never bored in the theatre.”

When Simon passed away after a heart attack in his 30s in 2005, their involvement in the theatre helped the couple cope with their loss.

Dorothy has maintained her links with The Garrick and she will be directing a production of The Quartet, in February, shortly before her 88th birthday in June.

Learning lines undoubtedly helps her mental agility. In fact, she remembers virtually every production she has appeared in or directed and there have been many during her 70-year am-dram career.

“I haven’t had any difficulty learning my lines as I’ve got older. The last big part I played was when I was 83. It was The Inspector Calls, Clifford directed it and it was the year before he died and he got an award for it.”

Dorothy grew up off Colne Road, a child who was inspired by words and poetry, which was picked up at high school by a teacher, Mrs Houghton. With her encouragement Dorothy became a prolific reader, so no-one was surprised when she left school at 16 to take up her dream job at the local library.

Neither of her parents were theatrical. Her dad died at 42 leaving her mother a widow at 40 with two daughters to bring up.

Her only option was to become a home help and Dorothy, who was eight years older than her sister, stepped up to the role of surrogate mum in her absence.

“It was really hard for my mother because being a home help wasn’t pleasant in those days, so I did everything I could to help her. She taught me how to bake and I ironed, so when I got married I was well trained.”

Dorothy, who has a lifetime achievement award for amateur dramatics, appeared in her first play – The Camel’s Back – at 17 with St Catherine’s Dramatic Society.

She moved on to St Stephen’s, where Clifford was in the choir, when she got married.

They both joined the Garrick in 1952 and in 1956 the couple appeared in their first big show, Oklahoma! Clifford was Curly and Dorothy was in the chorus.

“The nearest I came to achieving what I wanted from a performance was in the Lion In Winter the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II. It satisfied me playing the part of Eleanor. But I’ve been very lucky. I’ve played Hedder Gabler, Lady Bracknell in the Importance of Being Earnest, Mrs Malaprop in The Rivals.

“I’ve worked hard, but I’ve loved being part of The Garrick.

“Acting is about power. You stand on that stage and you’re talking and everybody is listening to you and the feeling that comes over from the audience is quite wonderful and especially if you’re doing a dramatic part.

“In the Lion In Winter you could hear a pin drop.

“I got five phone calls from the audience afterwards saying how much they’d enjoyed it.

“I never wanted to be a professional. Some years ago someone said I ought to have tried. They said the same of Clifford, but we preferred to be big fish in a little pond.

“A professional acting career is very difficult to achieve. We’ve had professionals come through, Malcolm Hebden who plays Norris in Coronation Street is a Burnley boy and Andrew Wadsworth went to the West End. The opportunities were there, but we probably thought we weren’t good enough.

“A critic once said that when I walked on stage it lit up, which was a nice compliment.

“I know I can command an audience, but that’s experience.”

Dorothy looks at least 10 years younger than her years. So is acting the elixir of youth?

“It’s my dyed hair,” she jokes, referring to her chic blonde bob. “Someone once said ‘it’s your eyes they are full of life’. I’ve worked with young people all my life, so that keeps you on your toes and learning lines keeps your brain alert. But, most importantly, I haven’t let myself go.

“You have to get in the shower every morning, put your make-up on and wear something nice.

“You just have to keep up.”

Spoken like a very true leading lady.