Mike Gannon and the
Catholic Stage Guild
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Mike Gannon and theCatholic Stage Guild
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CATHOLIC STAGE GUILD In 2005, The Northern Branch of the Catholic Stage Guild, celebrates it's Golden Jubilee!  Joe Gladwin, Character actor and Variety artist, founded the Northern Branch of the Catholic Stage Guild fifty years ago. He was the Honorary Secretary from that year until 1985. The Catholic Stage Guild’s aim is to give Pastoral care to artists who require it and also on occasion financial help to artists who are in need. Joe was famous for playing “Wally Batty” in the long running BBC television series “Last of the Summer Wine”. He played many similar roles on television. He is also remembered for being “Mr Hovis”, who was the central character for the bread company Hovis, in their long running television commercials which used the theme “Going Home” from Dvorak’s New World Symphony. The first meeting of the Guild was held in the BBC Television’s canteen which was situated in Piccadilly in Manchester. Subsequent Guild meetings were held over the top of the music shop owned by and called after Johnny Roadhouse also on Oxford Road, near to the BBC Television studios. Mike Gannon took over the running of Northern Branch as Chairman in 1985, after helping Joe since 1982. Since Mike took over the Guild all denominations are welcome to their events and pastoral care is available to all back stage staff as well as main artists. Mike sets up visits to the theatres by his Northern Guild Chaplains which have proved popular and successful. The theatre visits were originally instigated by Mike’s good friend and Chaplain in Manchester, the late Monsignor Louis Sharp. RIP. The theatre visits have been established as a tradition and have been taken even further by Jesuit Priest, Father Denis Blackledge, who is a very experienced broadcaster and media presenter. Father Geoff Bottoms is now the main Chaplain in Blackpool, the heart and soul of Variety theatre in the North West.
Father Denis enlisted the help of Mike to work on and provide the music for a number of Masses broadcast on television for which he was responsible. Father Denis was aware of the musical work of Mike due to him being involved in the Pageant to celebrate the missions and the coming of St Augustine and St Columba to these shores. The Pageant was held at Houghton Tower on the 1st of June 1997 and was entitled- “Light of the Nations”. “Light of The Nations” was turned into a play for BBC Radio; Mike played the part of Bede in the production by Radio Lancashire’s Harriet Roberts. Mike was later called upon to organise the music and write some original music including the title song and perform it for the Churches Together in Lancashire’s Millennium celebrations. This was held at Deepdale in Preston, Lancashire, the home of Preston North End Football Club. The pageant was broadcast on BBC Radio Lancashire with Joe Wilson and Father Denis Blackledge providing the commentary. A crowd of 14,500 people turned up and enjoyed the day on the 11th of June 2000. As you can see the Guild has moved on in many ways from the first meetings held in Manchester by Joe Gladwin and a few enthusiasts who included the Treasurer of today who was a much younger John Buffham. Mike and John were very busy preparing for the Golden Jubilee Mass at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Blackpool on the 3rd of September the year of our Lord 2006. The National Catholic Stage Guild has its spiritual headquarters in Covent Garden at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, London. The National Guild will soon celebrate 100 years of being in existence. THE CATHOLIC STAGE GUILD'S CAROL SERVICE Usually, Mike puts on a Carol Service ,and for Christmas 2006, it was held at Mike's own Parish, St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Anderton, Chorley. (You can click here to go to their website). Stay posted for further Catholic Stage Guild activities in the near future.
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