At the age of 90, Thomas Round will become the oldest person ever to grace the stage at Blackburn's Thwaites Empire Theatre with his show on June 11. But his advancing years have done nothing to diminish his enthusiasm.

THOMAS Round comes from a time when showbiz was full of glitz and glamour.

He found fame as the principal tenor with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1946 and enjoyed a long and fruitful career touring the world and singing to enraptured audiences.

He hasn't, however, hung up his top hat in exchange for pipe and slippers as one may expect. He is still going strong, performing a show made up of a collection of his fascinating memories illustrated by archaic tape recordings and a few live songs thrown in for good measure.

"I will be talking about my memories and playing cassette tapes of recordings," said Mr Round.

"I'll also be projecting about 200 pictures from a computer onto a big screen and I'll be singing a few songs as well. it should be a good night. It's usually very interesting."

The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company was founded by Richard D'Oyly Carte in the 1870s. It has been performing the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan for almost 130 years.

Those interested in Gilbert and Sullivan, or perhaps those who yearn for a simpler time before entertainment consisted of watching a Tourette's sufferer and a woman with inflated boobs living in a box, will delight in Mr Round's charming memories.

"I was still in the Air Force when I auditioned for D'Oyly Carte, I must have been about 28," he recalled.

"I was in the war for nearly five years and I saw my first Gilbert and Sullivan opera when I came back from America where I had been transferred as a flying instructor.

"I just happened to see a poster in Piccadilly Underground advertising the show and went along out of curiosity. I was thrilled to death I'd never seen anything like it.

"After the performance I asked for an audition, which they granted me that very same day. After that first audition they wrote to me two days later to ask me to come to the Savoy Theatre to sing for Rupert D'Oyly Carte himself and he offered me a contract there and then. I had to get demobbed from the Air Force before I could sign up. That was in 1946. Things are very different nowadays."

Mr Round sang the lead role in many D'Oyly Carte operas, played on Broadway in America and toured Australia, New Zealand and the Far East.

And when it comes to telling his favourite memories the problem is deciding which one to pick.

"There have been so many highlights," he said. "One was taking part in the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House."

He last played Blackburn's King George's Hall in the 1970s,If you didn't catch that performance, make sure you get tickets to this one.

Blackburn Gilbert & Sullivan Society presents Thomas Round on Sunday, June 11, at 7.30pm. Tickets £10. Call 01254 680137.