Hewitt's History Files

"RARELY have I seen such a torrid love scene in amateur groups as with her and the master of the house," raved the critic of Pat Defty's performance for The Midhurst Players in November 1959.

By The Newsroom

Published 15th Apr 2008, 15:36 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:19 BST

The play was Gaslight, and it was presented at Midhurst County Secondary School.

"There was only one thing wrong with Pat Defty's performance as Nancy, the parlourmaid," the critic lamented, "We did not see enough of her.

"Her provocative wiggle, the toss of her head, and her saucy manner were terrific."

The notice was typical. A couple of years earlier, when Pat appeared for The Midhurst Players in Keith Winter's The Shining Hour (September 1957), she again made the headlines.

"The play centres on the Linden family at a Yorkshire farmhouse," the critic wrote. "Patricia Defty, with a lovely voice, good poise, and considerable ability, played with skill the part of Judy Linden, who is faced with the realisation that her husband has fallen in love with his brother's wife."

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette April 16