Tribute to drama stalwart who was dedicated to Thurso Players
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A STALWART of Thurso Players who has died at the age of 80 will leave "a wealth of memories".
Betty Bradstreet had a long association with the drama group and over the years performed many roles, including cast member, director, wardrobe manager and office-bearer. Her passing earlier this month was met with sadness in the community.
Betty was born in Ellon in Aberdeenshire in August 1939 and moved to Caithness in 1962 to take up a teaching post at Thurso High School. She met Derek Bradstreet, a nuclear scientist from England who was working at Dounreay, and the couple married in 1963.
They had three of a family– two daughters and a son – and four grandchildren.
Betty taught geography and for a time English at Thurso High School. Towards the end of her teaching career she took up the post of principal teacher of geography in Wick, establishing drama groups and presenting performances at both schools.
She helped stage productions such as The Boy Friend and Bad Day at Black Frog Creek (Thurso), and Grease (Wick), as well as a number of Scottish Community Drama Association one-act festival plays.
Her lifelong love of drama was shared by Derek and her children and was highlighted in her long and dedicated association with Thurso Players.
Press officer Sara Donaldson said: "She could turn her hand to all aspects of theatre, acting in, directing and making costumes for Players’ productions. She often told stories of the old days when performances took place in what is now the wardrobe before the present auditorium was created – a cramped acting space but very atmospheric.
"She was pictured with the Queen Mother at the opening of the refurbished Mill Theatre in 1988."
A highlight of her involvement in Thurso Players’ entries in the annual SCDA competition was being in The Lady Aoi, which represented Scotland in the British finals at Colwyn Bay.
As well as one-act plays Betty was involved in full-length plays and musicals such as Sweeney Todd the Barber and Rookery Nook. She also was involved in the pantomime every December.
Betty worked with Thurso Junior Players too, and directed a very successful production of Bugsy Malone which starred Helen Mackay who has gone on to become a highly regarded professional actress. Betty worked with Helen on other occasions and may have influenced her decision to make a career of acting.
Another actor she encouraged was Brian Smith. Both speak highly of her influence on them.
Betty’s last directing role was Improbable Fiction, which involved a huge wardrobe and quick changes backstage.
She was also an office-bearer with the Players and was its chairwoman, programme organiser and secretary over the years, and latterly was the wardrobe manager. Under her leadership the contents were reorganised, making finding and returning costumes much easier.
Sara added: "Betty will be missed but she leaves a wealth of memories with those who knew her."
