It is with very great sadness that LAOS announce that much-loved member, Carl Bateson passed away on Thursday, 20th April. Carl joined LAOS in 2012 for our production of Pirates of Penzance which he said was his favourite show. Happy talking to anyone and everyone Carl was a very popular member right from the start.

Sadly after some months of ill health he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 and because of major surgery had to pull out of LAOS’ production of West Side Story in March 2015 but returned for Sweet Charity! Ever one to make light of his illness, he told unsuspecting people on holiday and in the dressing rooms that his impressive scar from the surgery was the result of a shark bite !

Unfortunately the cancer returned and Carl had more chemotherapy in 2016, but ever-determined to work for others, he arranged a charity fund-raising night in conjunction with LAOS in September 2016 which raised over £2,000 for the two cancer charities Cancer Research and Hope Against Cancer.

He will be very sadly missed by all his friends at LAOS, in the Loughborough theatre world and beyond.