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College News
24 February 2004
Encore! Curtain call for Royal Holloway students
Royal Holloway Free Church Chaplain and alumni, Tom Bayliss, is to give a special encore - 30 years after he took his last bow.
Tom, who graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London in 1975, was part of the College's Savoy Opera Society and during his student years conducted a performance of Gilbert & Sullivan's famous work, The Mikado.
Tom, who now lives in Egham, will return to the stage this weekend - 30 years later -to star as the Mikado himself, in the Savoy Opera Society's 2004 performance of the operetta.
The Mikado has a special romantic meaning for Tom. It was during his original performance that he met his wife to be, Deborah Edwards - a student at the university between 1972 and 1975.
"Deborah was a soloist in the production," says Tom. "She played one of the three maids from school, 'Peep-Bo', and that is how we met. It's a wonderful way to celebrate 30 years, our first meeting and our time at Royal Holloway, which is full of wonderfully happy memories."
The Savoy Opera Society was founded in 1966, following the opening of Royal Holloway College to male undergraduates in 1965. It is one of over 50 societies at the university, which cover a wide range of cultural interests.
Tom's connections with Royal Holloway don't end there - his brother, Mike Bayliss, also studied at the university, and was Founder Chairman of the Savoy Opera Society. Mike is also appearing in this year's Mikado production, as part of the men's chorus. In fact, the event will be something of a reunion for old Savoy Opera Society members - the original Mikado from the society's first ever production, Bob Wardle, is coming to view the final night.
The Mikado performance runs from 26-28 February, 7.30p.m., at Englefield Green Social Hall. A matinee will take place on 28 February at 3.30p.m. Tickets are available from the Students' Union Box Office 01784 437491, priced at £5.50, (concessions £4.50).
ENDS
Press enquiries to Royal Holloway, University of London Press Office:
Christine Long
Press & PR Officer
01784 443967
christine.long@rhul.ac.uk
Vicky Cousins
Assistant Press & Communications Officer
01784 414480
victoria.cousins@rhul.ac.uk
Editor's Notes
Past students of Royal Holloway
can re-live their student memories via the Alumni Relations programme
at the university. The programme maintains a network of over 31,000
alumni and runs a variety of events and groups for ex-students of Royal
Holloway. For more information visit www.rhul.ac.uk/for-alumni or email
alumni@rhul.ac.uk
