The Southwick Players (5th May 2017)
Sadly recently ‘Smudge’ Roberts passed away. Smudge was a long standing member of The Southwick Players and,
as many of you will know, one of her stock phrases was ‘in the old days’ .
Smudge was around ‘in the old days’ of The Players, and would relate stories of evenings spent with the
likes of Peter Gullen, ” straightening nails ready to build a new set “. It is not known whether or not her
nickname came from the fact that she was a good set painter and, indeed, artist or that her maiden name
was Smith, i.e. ‘ Smudger Smith ‘. She would come into the workshop, have a chat and say ” I must go
now and tend to my allotment ” or go to the Art club. However, such was her art of chatter that two or three
goodbyes later she would finally leave. Her warmth will not be forgotten. – David Otway
Iris ‘Smudge’ Roberts passed away on 18th March 2017 aged over 80.