Vale - Sue Hayward

I have taken a few days to deal with Sue's passing. I first met Sue around 1993 at Pit Theatre when it was in the Midland Arts Centre, we were both members of the cast in Black Comedy.(Yes! She used to act once upon a time believe it or not!) I liked Sue from the start, at that stage she still had a fiery tangle of red hair, she was open and honest, and loved a drink, a smoke and a naughty joke. We were to direct Virginia Woolf for Playlovers, which for various reasons had to be postponed, but Sue was adamant she would be back in 2011 to direct it. Sue had a tough life, but she always had time to talk, and on more than one occasion was a listening ear when I needed it. I will never forget going to Northam to adjudicate a play, we drove past a house in Northam with a huge bonfire out the front of it with a very sad person looking morose sitting and staring at it. Sue's comment was "You could take a picture of that and call it 'Contemplation by Fire'" in her usual dry humour. I still laugh when I think about it. I will miss you very much Sue, I am glad we got to spend some time together before you passed away. My deepest sympathies to Jen, my thoughts are with you at this very difficult time. Rest in Peace my friend. Robert xox