BRYAN MOSLEY
Bryan
told me that one day he would be on `News at Ten`. His words came true on 9 February
1999 when the sad news of his passing was announced by anchorman Trevor McDonald.
He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, and a good friend. He was a superb actor too, and his biography `Street Life` was recently published by Harper Collins.
Maurice Gidney
My father, Maurice Robert Gidney `The Cheery Trickster` suddenly passed away just before his Punch & Judy show on Saturday 22nd May 1999. He was known as one of the finest children`s entertainers in the country and was enjoyed by generations of children whom he entertained professionally for more than 50 years. Maurice was a devoted Husband, a loving Father and generous Grandpa. He fulfilled all his family roles admirably and was married to June for 43 years. He enjoyed music, particularly Opera, and his garden was a delight to him.
Maurice performed his first show at the age of 17, and was admired, respected and loved by all who knew him in and out of the business, spending time training many `would-be` entertainers and advising theatrical productions. His cod music hall act `The Great Catastrophe` had his audience roaring with laughter and he was responsible for inventing a number of magical momentos, such as the SCEs-Billed-Snicker-Snacker`!
He was seen on radio and television a number of times, but his ambitions were always with a `live` audience and he was booked to appear in his own theatre at Butlin`s, Minehead for twelve summer seasons in succession. In latter years, he brushed aside any thoughts of retirement and continued to entertain thousands of children throughout the west-country. He was, of course even a `professor` as all the best Punch & Judy men claim to be, and this is what he was preparing to perform, in a Devon Leisure Park when he suddenly left us.
The immovable rock, on which he stood all his life, was his faith. His relationship with God was his `anchor`, and this enabled him to bring a unique wisdom to his bible-studies and preaching. His only regret about heaven was noticing a verse in Revelation 21 that said there was no sea there. Dad loved the sea, and it`s majestic power would easily hold his attention. He was quick to realise however, that heaven did not need the beauty of the ocean. God`s glory would captivate him enough, he reasoned. Maurice passed away whilst doing what he loved best, and entered eternity, the place he always knew was his final destination.
I am proud to have been taught the art of magic and Punch by my father, and have been continuing the family tradition by presenting his act for a number of years. It was just as I was leaving my house to perform that I received the sad news, but decided to continue with the show in his honour. It was as if he had swiftly handed on the responsibility for me to entertain in his own distinctive way, and I was glad to accept it. (Chris Gidney)