Dilys Mayor – a farewell

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It was with enormous sadness that we learned that our beautiful friend, Dilys Mayor, passed away on June 12. The loss to her family and friends is profound, there being nobody like her. In this Rye News profile of November 2015, we learned that Dilys Mayor “stumbled upon Rye” in 1976, her choice of words belying the energetic elegance she brought to every aspect of her life, which began in Pinner, Middlesex in 1933. As a young county sprinter she once competed against the Dutch Olympian Fanny Blankers-Koen and there was always a nimbleness to Dilys that would convince you she’d won.

In role in Shakespeare in Rye, 2019

For many years, a tiny cottage in Barmouth old town became a vital bolt hole for Dilys and her three children following the death of her husband Alan.  It was also a way of reconnecting with her Welsh roots, her father having been born in Haverfordwest. To many of her family and friends,  she was known affectionately as the Duchess of Barmouth and even if, like me, you were comparatively new to the adventure of being her friend, it wasn’t long before you were addressing emails to Her Grace and signing them off with humble obeisances. Because nothing in the world was better than making Dilys laugh and then to await the reciprocal pleasure of having her crack you up.

As the article revealed, the roll call of talents was long and impressive. One could picture her reading it aloud over her usual cappuccino in The Apothecary and her imaginary rejoinder, “How disappointing they didn’t mention I was the finest swordsman in France”.

When Dilys took something on, her commitment was complete and meticulous. Her early engagement with the Rye Medieval Society quickly saw her become a lynchpin, heavily involved for a number of years in all aspects of organising, planning, fundraising and, of course, the street performances.

Harlequin, her East St emporium, offered many clues about the importance to her, of every aspect of the theatre. Nestled within her collection of costumes, books, Shakespeare First Folio postcards and  Rye Pottery Canterbury Tales characters, Dilys would chat to customers with such knowledge and authority that some of them forgot to leave and a small queue would form, some of them idly wondering what was this tiny visitor attraction.

With son, Andrew in Spain, 2016

To the theatrical community in Rye, Dilys was everything. She was the playwright who created shameless pastiches of sacred texts by revered authors from Shakespeare to Lloyd Webber. Her Shakespeare in Rye, crammed with quotes and misquotes, last played at the 2019 Rye Arts Festival.  Ryevita quoted its critics on the cover of the programme, “It may have a slim plot but you will come out humming the set!”  The outrageously funny Mapp and Lucia adaptations played in all of Rye’s top spots from the Town Hall Chamber to Rye Museum and The Mermaid Inn. As actor-manager of her Rye Shakespeare Company, Dilys could direct, design a set, find the right costume in her attic and act the socks off most of her cast.

The recent long theatre interval saw a hardy group of assorted local actors spend lockdown evenings online, reading any fragment of script that could be shared in a WhatsApp group. An episode of the Archers was poignant because it centred around the bossy Linda Snell and her attempts to rescue the village panto. The Rye Players’ Snow White was on hold at the time, having just suffered the first of three postponements. Inspired, Dilys climbed into her loft and discovered a script by her son Andrew, that became last summer’s hit show, Canterburye Tales and which raised the money to keep Rye Players going. This month, the show was busily preparing for its revival at the Hastings Fringe, with Dilys as one of the cast (and all of the Wardrobe Department and Stage Management). It shall, of course, go on.

I should mention that Dilys knew her fashion and her elegant appearance was a hallmark: she was a knockout. And funny! Her letters, texts and emails teemed with wit and intelligence and there was a good chance she’ll have signed them Lady Otteline Morrell, Teresa Green or just Bugsy. She was pretty terrible at being unwell and how glad we are that she mostly didn’t bother until her mercifully brief final illness. By then she’d moved to Cyprus Place where she counted the blessing of being able to spend lockdowns among dear friends, Tony Dalgleas, Mike and Janet Stott and their small menagerie in a peaceful garden.

True to form, Dilys has left us wanting more and in the heartbreak of losing her, there is also joy and gratitude that we knew her. The family and friends of Dilys Mayor will commemorate her life in a service at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Rye, on Tuesday July 12 at 2pm. Her daughter Susannah, sons Toby and Andrew and their families are immensely grateful for the loving messages they are receiving from the very many people who knew and loved their wonderful mother, Dilys.

Image Credits: Courtesy: the Mayor family , Courtesy: Mayor family .

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14 COMMENTS

  1. What sad news, but what a lovely farewell. I had many lively and free-ranging chats in Dilys’s little shop when I first moved to Rye, over a decade ago. She seemed to me to embody the unique charm and character of this very special place. Sorry to learn of her passing.

  2. Absolute pleasure to know and work for Dilys.
    A shining light.
    Much love to her family.
    Peter and Michael Tudor builders.

  3. There are some people in our lives, who mean so much more than anyone else. Dearest Dilys was such a one – a rare and special talent, who made so many other lives so much more fun, interesting, adventurous and bizarre. We shared too many special moments to begin to recount, but they all continue to shine brightly in my memories. I love you, Winkle Woman of Winchelsea, aka Bad Bob, aka Darling Duchess – you were a guiding light, and one of the most positive influences in my life. I will miss you more than I can say. Break a leg, Sweetpea – your next journey is just beginning! xxx

  4. Dear Dilys, one of the last great characters of Rye and one of the most talented, kindest & funniest. You will be much missed, Your Grace.

  5. Such beautiful accolades for someone who sounded a positive life force in the Rye community. Sara Brinkhurst’s words brought tears to my eyes.

  6. I am so very sad to lose that super- talented thespian. She had become a very dear friend ever since we shared the outer office of Phillips and Stubbs during Rye Festival when I ran the Box Office.
    A very special friend, but then we can all say that! It was her skill, and that was her gift!

  7. Sad to hear of cousin Dilys’ passing. Lin & I have fond memories of our only too rare meetings when Dilys would call on us when we lived in Shrewsbury enroute to Barmouth.

  8. it shook us rigid when the note came through the letter box from Andrew with the sad news.
    Our friendship goes back to the days in Essex when we raced on the Blackwater,and Allan was very competative though loveable on dry land.
    We missed all the family when they moved to Rye and it still leaves a hole in our hearts though we did keep in touch and a visit was always something to look foreward too
    Barbara Tony and family (Tim and Simon)

  9. Such sad news…. I, like my brother Simon and our parents, have such fond memories of Dilys and her family both at the little sailing club at Steeple Bay and at various sailing championships around the country.

    I was lucky enough to stay in Dilys’ cottage in Barmouth back in the 70s and will never forget her vivaciousness, generosity of spirit and sense of humour.

    Please accept my deepest condolences to the family.

  10. So sad to hear of Dilys passing away. She and Alan were there for a good part of my childhood. My condolences to Toby, Andrew and Susan. She was a very special woman. My parents and the Mayors were great friends and always kept in touch. I have very happy memories of the holidays we had in Ibiza and wales. I will remember warmly in heart always.

  11. So very sad to hear this. In a ground-floor office on Conway Street, overlooking London’s Fitzroy Square, Dilys played an integral part in the ups and downs of our small creative business, A truly fun person to have around every single day, liked by everyone who came and went – and clients too, with at least one managing director from an international brand finding it impossible to resist a cup of her tea and delicious cake. He told me once that he loved coming because we were an ordinary, no-nonsense outfit. And the “cold collation” working lunches were effortlessly prepared. But Dilys was so much more than an efficient organiser. She wrote stuff too. Personally, I have much to thank her for as a kind and compassionate friend when I went through an especially dark period. Thank you always “Dils” for the laughs and the caring when they were needed most. I salute you. Rest in peace.

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