The Alan Holt Memorial Award

Bury St Edmunds Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society is offering a prize fund of £100 each to two young people who are about to embark on a full-time course of study in the performing arts. The money is awarded to help with the purchase of books and other essential items of equipment for their chosen course.

The prize (first offered in 1990) perpetuates the memory a past President and Chairman of the Society who died in 1987. Alan was also a teacher at County Upper School, and a Youth Officer for Bury St Edmunds. The award was set up in co-operation with his widow, Margaret, who is also a past President of the Society.

An applicant must write in their own words (about one A4 page) saying how they will benefit from the award, giving some information about themselves and what they have accomplished in the performing arts to date.

Full details of all the information required can be obtained by writing to the Honorary Secretary at , or by phoning us on .

The 2011 Award

The Committee has received two nominations for the 2011 award, and has decided to accept both.

James Barker has been nominated by his drama teacher at County Upper. He has been a member of our Society for a few years now, having been bitten by the bug through watching his mum and dad perform. James recently played the part of the nasty Gaston in Beauty and The Beast. James is off to Hull University in September to study drama.

Oliver Ricote has been nominated by the drama department at King Edward VI. He is finishing at KEGS this summer after completing his A-Level in dance, and in September he will be accepting a place at the London Contemporary Dance School.