A THEATRE legend who has appeared on stage in hundreds of productions on stages across Barnsley over more than 70 years has died aged 83.
Bill Moss was a theatre stalwart who first appeared on stage as an actor aged about six at Farrar Street Congregational Church, which is today known as Trinity United Reform Church. Fittingly his last performance was on the same stage at Trinity Church with the Trinity Players just a few months ago in Oscar Wilde’s Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime.
He had also performed with the Barnsley Play Goers, the YMCA Operatic Society which later became the Co-Op Operatic Society, the Lamproom Musical Theatre Company of which he was president for many years, and the Lamproom Theatre Company, of which he was the first chairman.
He appeared in hundreds of shows on stages including The Civic, the Lamproom, The Globe, and Trinity Church, and was also a successful and talented director.
“He didn’t suffer fools gladly, particularly when it came to stage work,” said friend of 45 years, Edmund Bell. “But when he worked with a group of youngsters, he really could get the very best out of them. He was almost like a different person.
“As an actor he could really own a part. He was once doing Fagin years ago and his mother said ‘when’s our Bill coming on’. She didn’t even recognise him.”
Jack Land Noble, 28, a fellow star of the Lamproom stage, said he was deeply saddened by Bill’s death.
“Bill was a great influence in my formative theatrical endeavours and his wisdom as a character actor and approach to direction will always stay with me,” he said.
Bill was godfather to Katherine Kelly, the actress who most famously played Becky in Coronation Street. Her father John and Bill were close friends.
“Katherine wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for Bill actually,” said John. “Without him I wouldn’t have met my wife Anne. It was him who convinced me to go along to the Co-Op Operatic Society where we met.
“I remember in 1989 he directed a production of Annie at the Globe Theatre in town, which I was in with Katherine, and that was actually Katherine’s first performance on a stage.
“He was a wonderful man who really did love his theatre. He was obsessive about it.
“He told me his favourite parts were Fagin and Scrooge.
“I think if he’d lived to 120 he would have still wanted to be on stage. That was Bill.
“There are multiple generations of actors who have been influenced and inspired by Bill as an actor and director, and as a teacher.”
Bill had grown up close to the town centre on Blackburn Lane, and began work as an apprentice cabinet maker with his father at Whitehouse Furniture in the town centre. It was interrupted by his national service with the RAF, after which he went into teaching.
He spent many years at Wombwell High teaching woodwork, and in his later years as a supply teacher, spending a lot of time at Holgate.
He was also a keen cyclist and could regularly swim 100 lengths.
His wife Sheila died two years ago, and he had no immediate family. He was found at his home last Thursday after friends became concerned and contacted police.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 10.10am, at Barnsley Crematorium, conducted by Rev Nick Percival.
