Gordon Mackenzie (1954-56, 1962-65, 1965-70) Gordon Mackenzie was his stage name, his real one being Mike Lynch and he was known as Mike to all of us. Although he ended as touring manager of the company Mike had been a stalwart chorus tenor and sometime understudy, I remember him going on, at short notice, as the Defendant. I best remember Mike for his talent as a cabaret entertainer when he would do a turn at the piano, usually at some golf club do when he would have us in stitches with his rendition of 'A Wee Cock-Sparra' or disolve us to tears with 'Aye Fond Kiss'. He married Beti Lloyd Jones and they returned to Greernock until his untimely death in 1995.
Charles Mackerras (cond., 1975, 1981) Of course Charles Mackerras is one of the most eminent conductors in the world today. He wrote the Ballet 'Pineapple Poll' based on tunes by Sullivan and conducted the company on several occasions. It was exciting to have him in the pit. He is in charge of The Orchestra Of Enlightenment at present but of his personal circumstances I know nothing,
David Mackie (a.m.d., 1976-82)He joined after I had left but I have worked with him on many occasions since, in fact as I write I am about to do a concert with him with the New London Savoyards down in Yeovil. I love the Big Time!!!! David is something of a G&S expert and his talents are often called upon by companies interested in doing G&S, including the BBC, TV etc. He is in demand all the time and lives in Forest Gate, SW London.
James Marsland (1949-70)Jimmy Marsland was one of the D'Oyly Carte 'characters'. A former chorus tenor he bacame the mainstay of the production staff teaching every new chorister the moves from the red book. Ther aer are lots of Jimmy stories and some are written in D'Oyly Days. As Jimmy never married the Carte became his life and it was a sad day for him when it closed. He went on to produce a few productions for local amateurs and would appear at concerts to say hello. One day he fell and badly hurt his leg, which led to his death some time after.
Adrian Martin (1971-74) Adrian had a very strong Lyric Tenor voice and it was clear he stood a chance of making a good career for himself in Opera as the timbre of his voice could project through a very large orchestra. I saw him in roles at ENO and Covent Garden and thought he would have a major career but sadly thiss was not to be. He didn't do too badly but it seemed to stop short for some reason. He also sang in Europe but later his voice found particular acclaim in Phantom Of The Opera when he played the role of Piangi in the Manchester production. He too was married and divorced and I believe, as well as his concert performances he is also in business running a car hire firm in South London.
Chrystle Martin (1972-73)Chrystle joined with her husband Melvyn Higgs. She was a strong chorus mezzo and didn't have understudy or small parts duties. Both she and Melvyn left the company and sang in the ENO chorus for a while. Of their present circumstances sadly I am ignorant.
Marian Martin (1956-69) While in the Carte Marian played some of the small Mezzo roles with a voice ranging from ordinary to downright ugly at times. She was singing in the wrong register for her voice as later she a very fine soprano and sang with great success in semi-professional Operas before joining the ENO chorus after the death of her husband George Cook. I sang with her in a production of La Traviata and her voice was a revelation. She was a superb Violetta and I am sad that a major career was not to come her way. She remained in the ENO chorus for thireen years and died in 2003.
Ralph Mason (1959-63, 1965-73, 1974-75) He used to say he was 'Monty's Batman' which turned out to be true as he had indeed served as Lord Montgomery's aide before trying his luck at singing. His was a very English sound which served him well in G&S. He had a line in 'Silly Ass' roles which were hysterical, particularly Tolloller, The Duke and Alexis. I remember he also used to get bookings in Working Men's Clubs, just for a laugh really. He was slim, tall and blond and would wear a monocle, appearing as 'that new Tenor from Germany, Gunther Shitz.' He was married to Anne Sessions but this ended in divorce. He later found a comfortable niche with the Welsh National Opera with whom he sang some roles until his retirement in 2003.
Valerie Masterson (1964-69, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974-75, 1981) became the true international artiste in Opera Houses worldwide. She excelled in French opera, particularly as Manon in Massenet's Opera of the same name, which best suited her silver toned voice but she shone as Violetta in La Traviata at the English National Opera. She recorded this role, in English circa 1977 and if you can get a copy I would recommend it. She married Andrew March, a flautist with the Carte and had a son, with whom she was pregnant the season I started in the company. She still sings in the occasional concert and teaches singing privately.
Judi Merri (1973-75) Judi was a nervous performer. She was a small woman with a massive voice but with a wavering self belief which sometimes upset her. I think she benefitted from some coaching by Ken Sandford and her performances certainly improved. I imagine she should have continued singing with such an amazing voice. Surely some Grand Opera company would have grabbed her but after she left the Carte I have no information.
Jane Metcalfe (1975-79)My only contact with Jane was in a concert in Hastings, I think, since that is where she lived. I saw her in several of her roles and she had a certain dignity and professioal dedication, and a voice which managed the parts well. I believe she is married and was living in Hastings last I heard, but this was a long time ago.
Beverley Milne (1968-71) Bev was one of those self sufficient people who have a certain steelyness about them. She was Vegetarian and was a follower of the Christian Scientist movement. She had been a ballet dancer before turning to singing and she certainly gave 100% on stage. After she left the company I believe she returned to Australia and disappeared from my ken!
Susan Minshull (1968-72) Sue was another of the few who joined the company with me. She was responsible for several soprano understudies and was a decent performer. When she left I think she married and went to live back in Congleton, Cheshire, where she teaches singing and is a local star of the concert and operatic scene though she still performs in professional concerts too.
Roberta Morrell (1972-82) Roberta was destined to become one of the 'Royal Family', a higherarchy of long-serving lady choristers. She spent her time well detailing every move of every production and after leaving made, and still makes a fine living from 'doing' the amateurs, though her productions have left the old Carte ideas far behind. She creates productions with a high laughter content and she is not afraid of performer, venue or set which she is able to turn to her advantage, usually without too much fuss. I believe she has recently taken to writing detective novels based on the G&S operas and she also ghosted a book based of Ken Sandford's memoirs. She never married and lives somewhere in North Wales.
Janet Morrey (1973-75) I remember Janet as a good chorister who married someone from the orchestra and left to have a family. More than that I don't know I'm afraid.
Anita Morton (1971-73)The only thing I remember about Anita is that she accompanied myself, Yvonne Somelling and a friend of mine who was visiting, to a night club for a few drinks and a dance. Otherwise she seems to have evaded me completely. Sorry Anita.
Susan Mosco (1971-73)Sue Mosco was a stiking lady with shocking red hair. She married Mike Tuckey and tried to persue a career in Television after she left the Carte. I remember seeing her introducing a children's programme once but that seemed to be the sum total of her success in TV. I think she did pantomime and some TV extra work but after she divorced Mike she went out of my view and I have no knowlege of her circumstances now.
Helen Moulder (1975-76)The picture here does not do Helen credit, as I remember her thirty years ago. I didn't know her in the company and met her after a performance with some others who wanted to go to a club. In those days that meant a drinking club so I took them to McReady's of which I was a member at that time. I was looking forward to getting to know Helen a bit better and bought the first round. However, when I got back to the table I discovered that Helen had met her ex-boyfriend in the club and she was desperate to talk to him. I think she still loved him a lot. I never saw her again. She returned to New Zealand and became well known in movies.
Sara Mousley (1976-77)I met Sarah, as I did so many ex-Carters in the ENO chorus. She was a good soprano and played several small parts with ENO but I believe she married and went out of the business.
Peter Murray (a.m.d., 1968-70)Peter joined the company at the same time as myself and we became reasonably good pals, at least until the time he left. When we toured the States I shared hotels with him and I remember him being home sick for his then girl friend who he later married. Peter was a very good organist, but the technique is not necessarily good for playing the piano and so, when he played for rehearsals it was a bit hit and miss sometimes and Tom Lawlor christened him "Thumbs" Murray or "Tums", as it came out in Tom's brogue. I believe Peter is divorced from his first wife and has married again. He conducted me once in a concert but I seem to have lost touch with him again.
Elizabeth Mynett (1963-66, 1967-69)Liz was married to Glyn Adams and was never to be burdened with understudies and roles while in the company. She also loved to do her daily crossword puzzel which sometimes she would bring into the wing with her, leaving the puzzel and pen by the side of the stage until she came off again. I made the mistake once, during the girls entrance in Pirates of picking up this puzzel until I saw Liz giving me threatening looks and gestures from the stage. I told her it was nothing to have crosswords about, but never touched her paper again. After leaving the Carte she and Glyn sang at the ENO for many years until Glyn's untimely passing on the golf course at his club in Sidcup. Elizabeth is a successful singing teacher.
Royston Nash (a.m.d., 1970-71, m.d., 1971-79)Royston made his first appearance with the Carte on stage at the end of the 1969 London season when he marched on ahead of the Royal Marines band playing 'A Life On The Ocean Wave'. His suave good looks and military bearing made him an ideal candidate for Musical Director, since he cut a good figure in the pit and he joined the following year. After he left he went to America and ran the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, which, as far as I know, he still does.
Mark Nelson (1969-72) A very funny man and strong Bass chorister Mark would often have us in stitches, some of his exploits are mentioned in D'Oyly Days. He was married for a time to Doreen 'Tweeny' Williamson, sister of Howard but this ended in divorce. Mark emigrated to Australia where he sang in the chorus of Australian Opera in Sydney for several years. He can be seen in several of their videoed operas, most memorably in La Fille Du Regiment where his own brand of upstaging is very obvious. After several seasons he finally retired from the profession.
Herbert Newby (1947-50, 1951-55)He was known to us as Bert. He had been in the chorus and had played small parts and underdtudied some of the tenor roles but he was the touring manager in 1968. He looked like a retired colonel and liked a pint or two. He was not without a sense of humour. On one of the American tours he returned to the hotel to find that the lift had jammed between floors, and his wife, Caenwen was trapped inside it. One of the workmen told Bert it would not be too long before they got it freed, but Bert, having eyed a nearby bar, said, "No hurry!". I presume that he and Caenwen may no longer be with us but I don't know this.
This addendum lists all the later choristers and a few previous I either know little of or have some bearing on my Tales. Further information on these, or any of the others would be welcome.
Addendum
Jillian Mascall (1979-80) I met Jillian once at a party when she was a student. She seemed a popular person and was being spoken of as someone likely to succeed in the singing business. That she joined the Carte is a small measure of success, though what happened to her since the closure of the company I don't know.
Clicking on the blue links above and below will open pages in one of several G&S sites (listed below) which you can browse at leisure. They are
Memories Of The D'Oyly Carte
Who Was Who In The D'Oyly Carte
The G & S Archive
Savoynet