The long-serving president of an am-dram group in New Mills has been awarded a top accolade in recognition for 60 years of continuous service.

Colin Brown from New Mills Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society was given the accolade of Society Official of the Year at the Out of the Spotlight awards ceremony.

The 91-year-old, who has lived in New Mills all his life, said: “I joined in 1956 as there was a young girl I was keen on and she was joining so I did - and I married her.”

In 1959 New Mills Art Theatre, where the group met, closed.

Colin said: “There was a panic and concern of what happens next, what do we do as we had no where to perform.”

Colin said the group was made up of younger people but they decided to approach the owners of the theatre and ask if they could take it over.

“It was in a bad way there was damp and the seats were mouldy and it needed a lot of work.

“But we were determined.”

The group secured a lease and then set themselves the challenge of getting the theatre ready to welcome guests again in a ten week turnaround.

“We worked every day for ten weeks and we begged, borrowed and stole as we hadn’t gotten much money behind us.”

The theatre reopened in September 1959 and Colin has been an active member of the group and committee ever since and has been president for years.

He said: “We’ve done so many productions over the years but I think my favourite productions have been the King And I as I played the King three times.

“But we have had some other great and wonderful shows.

“We got super producer Alfred Brown working with us and he had a great following so where he went we had a lot of top class performers come to work with us which was great.

“We had the first premieres in the North West of The Pirates of Penzance and Fiddler on the Roof which is something to be proud of.”

The awards at the end of July were hosted by the Association of Community Theatre - on its Members Day and Colin said: “I was really pleased to be recognised for what I do but I just love being in the group even after all these years.

“It was a lovely awards night and special to get the award in front of other local drama groups as well who understand the work that goes on behind the scenes.”

Speaking about Colin’s award a spokesperson from the New Mills Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society said: “We are thrilled that our President was presented with the Society Official of the Year award at the Out of the Spotlight awards ceremony.

“This award was in recognition for over 60 years of continuous service to both our Society and to New Mills Art Theatre, and we are incredibly proud of Colin and everything he has done and continues to do.

“People like Colin are the lifeblood of amateur theatre through their selfless commitment and the reason why our Society, and theatre, continue to thrive.”