Book of Condolences and Memories

David Clayton- Book of Condolences and Memories

9/2/2022

It is with great sadness that we share the loss of our friend, chairman and director, David Clayton.

His passion for theatre was at the heart of the company and he was an inspiration to so many of us.

David first performed with The Community of Hungerford Theatre Company in the 1989 Production of Babes in the Wood, in which he played 'Nurse Mother Care', but he switched to directing in 1991 when the company produced 'Oliver'. Since then he has directed 30 town shows and The Players Productions.

In his role as chairman he helped expand the company with the Young Performers, Children's Theatre and Youth Theatre, which brought a love of theatre to countless young people in the town, many of whom have gone on to pursue careers in the performing arts.

He strongly believed that theatre was for everyone who wanted to be included both on and off the stage and made sure that this was possible. Through touring shows and fringe theatre, he found a way to create stages in unusual performance spaces to reach new audiences and adapt to new situations.

It is impossible to summarise the magnitude of what he did for this company or the full scope of the positive impact he had on everyone who worked with him.

Please share your memories of David and your condolences in the comments below.

19 Comments

Kate Izzard

10/2/2022 05:36:44 pm

So sorry to hear of your passing, you will be hugely missed. Whistle Down the Wind is still one of my absolute favourite shows to have been in, and it will always have a special place in my heart. Sending all of my love to your family and loved ones xxxx

Tina Townsend

10/2/2022 05:43:37 pm

I only knew David fleetingly but he was a lovely kind man. He will be missed by the whole community. Love and best wishes to his family who he adored xx

Abu Preston-Rees

10/2/2022 05:52:37 pm

I have many fond memories of being part of the Hungerford shows as a young child and teenager. David was always so encouraging and pushed me to go out of my comfort zone and sing a solo in Barnum. This drove my passion for musical theatre and I will forever be grateful for his dedication to the local community. Sending lots of love and best wishes to his family x

Abi

10/2/2022 05:53:32 pm

Abi not Abu

Andrew Spaak

10/2/2022 07:21:59 pm

I will always remember David as a man of integrity and his passion for the theatre in Hungerford knew no bounds. Everything was about the theatre, helping people grow and getting/keeping people involved. I will miss our chats and discussions.

Amy Gale

10/2/2022 07:23:47 pm

I am so sad to hear this news. David was a pillar of the Hungerford community and I am honoured that I was able to work with him during several town shows. I look back on them fondly even now, and am grateful that i was able to be directed by this great man. Thinking of his family at this sad time xxx

John Miles

10/2/2022 07:32:35 pm

The passing of David has left me with great sadness, for not only did we become friends after he joined the “Hungerford Town Show” but he embraced my originally idea, when he took over as director, and turned it into the Community of Hungerford Theatre Company which contained all aspects of the theatre and importantly enabling all members of the community, especially young persons, to taste the wonder of the theatre. A great credit to Hungerford. There are many memories but those that standout was his encouragement to persons who had never performed on stage before and to the young people who came to try the craft. I was also privileged, in my position as Premises Manager at John O'Gaunt School, where the performances and most of the rehearsals took place, to witness first hand the tremendous amount of hard work and effort he put into the productions and was usually the last person to leave. We had many chats and he personally encouraged me to widen my horizons and perform as a lead in musical productions which have given me many happy memories for which I am eternally grateful. After I had to give up performing due to illness he ensured that I was kept up to date with HCTC news and assisted in my being able to attend the productions. A friendship that will always remain and I will always think of him.
I give my deepest condolences and love to his wife, Sybil, and family

Fiona Poole

10/2/2022 08:27:41 pm

So David as a fellow Scot I loved our little chit chats or blether as we would say. You are engaging and such a positive and a massive and enthusiastic and passionate person. Note not used pass tense as you are a massive presence in Hungerford. You will be sadly missed ❤️

Bruce Mayhew

10/2/2022 08:44:43 pm

David will be sorely missed in Hungerford. He inspired and directed so many young people in Hungerford, never seeking the lime light himself. He will leave an enormous hole in the lives of so many people, people who have relied on him to lead.
Many many people in Hungerford owe him a huge debt for encouraging them to step up, be brave and confident and now many of them are successful in their adulthood and in business and they know it was partly due to David that they are where they are now.
I wish to convey my sincere condolences to his family. David put more back into life than he took out and you can be truly proud of him.

Ken Findlay

10/2/2022 08:45:48 pm

I was so sad to hear of David’s passing. I think I first met David when one of my daughters started performing with the theatre company. This formed her love of acting and she progressed over the years with acting as one of her primary passions, initially inspired and guided by David. When chatting with him he often asked after her and what she was now doing. He never forgot his young ‘charges’ and always thought highly of them.

On a personal level we would chat about his home city of Edinburgh, his passion of the Edinburgh Gang Show, his work at the Edinburgh Evening News, Scottish politics and in particular his love of Leith.

Leith, a hugely individual entity within the environs of the city and home to David’s beloved Hibernian. We often talked football whether on our respective clubs or our national team.

To paraphrase the words of a song by one of David’s favourite bands ‘The Proclaimers’ and Hibernian’s club song - the ‘Sunshine on Leith’ will shine a little bit less since his passing.

Sincere condolences to Sybil and David’s family on this sad occasion. He will be missed.

Maria Hiscock

10/2/2022 09:32:09 pm

I am so very sad to hear of your passing, you will be missed by all who knew you.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the Hungerford town theatre company, I will always remember you helping me to learn to speak with a convincing Edinburgh accent when I was so very poor at accents! You didn't give up on me. And I was lucky enough to be directed by you as the Vicar, which is one of my best memories from all my years on the stage, we had such good fun!
Thank you for the laughs and the determination and the friendship.
My deepest condolences to your family.
❤️

Sarah Large

11/2/2022 08:40:20 am

Just heard the very sad news - I might not have seen you in a number of years but I always enjoyed spending time with you, discussing animals and scotland. you will be missed David. My thoughts to your family at this sad time. Sarah

John Pike

11/2/2022 11:06:26 am

It is so very sad to hear of David's passing.
David, through the Community of Hungerford Theatre Company, gave me my first opportunity to be part of theatre. Through those shows I leant a craft which has become a career. The community shows were a highlight of my youth and still form some of my fondest memories. How ironic it was that the first decade of my career would find me working David’s old haunts in Edinburgh and Leith.
David's passing will leave Hungerford with much to morn. His dedication has influenced many and brought music, joy and laughter to many, many more.
As I watch the Proclaimers, one of David favourite bands, next perform to a full house auditoria from my Stage Managers chair I will think of David, the start he gave me and so many others on a lifetime in the arts.
David, you will be missed and my deepest condolences to Sybil and David’s family at this time.

Neil Padgen

11/2/2022 02:06:36 pm

I was very sad to hear that David had passed away. His enthusiasm for the theatre was infectious; his direction of plays was clear; and his willingness to share and teach made Hungerford theatre the quality it is today. He taught me stagecraft and helped me to discover a talent I didn't imagine I had. His advice always to wear the right shoes to discover the character I'm playing has proved invaluable; I never walk on stage without remembering him telling me "upstage foot first!"
Thank you, David, for the happy memories. May your legacy of a strong theatre community in Hungerford long continue. Rest in peace.

Jonathan Hunt

11/2/2022 02:09:43 pm

Such sad news,I worked with David on many shows in the 90s, such a dedicated and inspirational man, what a great loss to Hungerford and the Theatre x

George Olney

13/2/2022 11:46:20 pm

David was the first person to be foolish enough to plonk ten year old me on a stage in front of a paying audience.
Ignoring the fact I was the only boy to show up to the auditions in 2003… he gave me a role and taught me the basic skills of stagecraft which I have subconsciously used almost every day in my training and career over the past 18 years. It wasn’t until his passing that I realised how many of the things he taught me I still use every night at work.
After igniting an inextinguishable flame within me to be a performer he guided me, challenged me and told me off (a lot) which set me up for a career in show business. He knew my ultimate goals in my life were to be in Starlight Express and to be in a West End show and I can say with great confidence that I wouldn’t have been able to achieve either of those things without him.
David created the most incredible environment and encouraged everyone to get up on stage and “have a go”. I saw him cure peoples crippling anxieties and watched him throw groups together who still remain friends to this very day. Amateur Dramatics was and is for everyone and it’s one of the most wonderful things that a person can do and it’s people like David who devote so much of their lives to it to make it possible.
I will always remember that after a show David would throw a chocolate bar to whoever had performed especially well that evening. Not having done a musical before and certainly not having taken part in these chocolate throwing ceremonies I was very surprised when a Crunchie bar hit me in the face. I looked up to a smiling David giving me a big thumbs up and I thought ‘bloody hell, performing well gets you chocolate? Better stick at it’ and I’m so glad I did.

Thank you David for everything you did for me. It means the world.

I hope to continue your legacy for many more years on many more stages.

From the Hungerford Town Show to Londons West End… Anything is possible when a big Scottish many shouts at you!

Love to all of your family xxxx

Steve Munt

15/2/2022 11:54:39 am

I can not thank David enough for what he gave, over many years, to my family. My daughters' love of the performing arts grew immensely under the guidance and leadership that David gave to the Community Theatre. More recently my eldest grandson became involved in the theatre group too and started to have contact with David.
He was a man you couldn't help but like and respect.
Thank you, David

Guy Parkes

16/2/2022 08:27:54 pm

SELFLESS, Inspiring, enthusiastic, giving, kind, dedicated, pioneering, motivational, mentoring, talented. This is how I would describe David. Above all it was his selfless qualities and endless love of the theatre group that was so endearing. A great leader of people and true philanthropist. When Jo and I arrived in Hungerford in 2001 he was one of the first person we met. He introduced us to his friends in the theatre group and we very soon felt like we really belonged and probably why we have set down roots here. Our three children have all appeared in the theatre group with David and a bit of his influence and teachings will remain with all of them and with us, He has left a great legacy and imagine him now smiling down from BRIGADOON. Love Guy

Niall Madden-Blain

22/2/2022 11:26:27 am

I was devastated to hear that David had passed away. His passion for theatre was clear in every production he directed. He would always be showing you how to do certain things clearly. He always wanted what was best for the company. The confidence he showed not just in me but the whole cast and crew gave us extra momentum to make him proud. Without his dedication to share and teach, Hungerford theatre would not be where they are today. He taught me new ways of performing and I’m a better performer because of him.
Thank you, David, for the happy memories and for giving me an opportunity to perform for you. You have made a legacy at Hungerford Theatre company that will continue. Rest in peace. You’ll always be remembered.

David Clayton- Book of Condolences and Memories

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