From cruise ship glamour as Cilla Black, star performances as Olivia Newton Aycliffe, to “thrifty girl guide”, Brenda has always lived her life at full speed ahead, writes Sue Reece.
The shy schoolgirl with the big voice started her career practicing in a pig cree.
It was owned by the drummer’s dad and “the only place that had heat and electricity, but didn’t smell so great”.
The Crack of Dawn, as they were known, had their first gig in the Blackhouse Working Men’s Club, where they got paid £9 between four of them and the somewhat petite Brenda spent the entire time singing from behind the box speaker.
She remembers that towards the end of the turn a fight broke out in the audience and the manager shouted, “keep singing” and she’s never stopped since.
She married the drummer, the band got picked up by an agent and they travelled the country refining their musical act, often competing with the bingo and on one occasion setting the balls on fire.
When one night a member of the audience said she looked like Cilla Black, she took on the persona and another ordinary girl with a big voice became a star!
Brenda then armed with her Carmen Rollers, the deluxe model, and suitcase full of props which included extending arms, false legs, tricycle and other strange paraphernalia took on the world with what had become a comedy mimic act.
Having to explain the contents of the suitcase to overseas customs officials wasn’t always easy and on one occasion in Amsterdam she was detained and almost missed the ship.
Having worked with all the greats including Morecombe and Wise, Ken Dodd, Max Bygraves, Les Dawson and, after performing on over 290 cruises and having the time of her life, Brenda has hung up her sea legs to become a fulltime gran.
She loves doing the school pick-up and can been seen riding around Chilton on her bike, foraging in the area and helping to raise funds for local good causes. She also still ice-skates, swims and hoola-hoops!
She hasn’t completely given up the stage and delights audiences by performing at local events to support worthy charities.
You can next hear that local girl with the big voice at Chilton’s VE Day celebration on 10 May, raising funds for the Mayor’s Charity.
Who is your Community Champion? Tell us their story so we can thank them on behalf of the Chilton Community.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
