Born and raised in Guyana, the late Hazel Sharples (pictured) was a stage manager for the Royal Opera House and National Theatre (NT) in London, the founder of a group for out-of-work opera singers and, it seems, something of a diva! Slightly awkwardly, she was also my dad's first wife and kept the surname even after they separated (Ena Sharples was in Coronation Street at the time so the name had a certain resonance, according to my cousin). I was invited by Hazel's friend Jason Barnes, former production manager at the NT, to the Guildhall School of Music and Arts on Friday to see the awarding of the 2018 Hazel Sharples Prize, which goes to a third year technical theatre student at the school. The ceremony was preceded by an excellent student performance of A Fiddler On The Roof. Speaking afterwards, the winner of this year's prize was delighted with her win and keen to know more about Hazel from my aunt and others who were present and had known her well. Barnes also said he was keen to re-trace her brother in Canada, I think the name was (Rod?) Dummett. Happy to pass on any leads.
