My uncle Eddie Gratton, who has died of anaemia and Alzheimer’s disease aged 83, was a leading figure in the worlds of amateur theatre and sport in the north-east of England for the best part of six decades. He was also an energetic teacher of English and drama at several state secondary schools.
He was born Richard Edward Gratton in Thornley, Co Durham, the son of Dick (also Richard Edward), a coal miner, and Elizabeth (nee Hardman), later a Methodist preacher. Eddie’s early performing experience came in local Methodist eisteddfods, where he won prizes in elocution. He attended AJ Dawson grammar school, Wingate, from 1950 to 1957. There, he played schools rugby at county level, and threw a snowball at Ann Smith, whom he married in 1961.
Before their marriage, he undertook national service, during which, as well as playing rugby and cricket, he boxed for the RAF. He turned down a commission and trained as a teacher at Westminster College, Oxford. He and Ann, who also became a teacher, lived in Co Durham, mostly at Blackhall Rocks.
An extremely popular all-round cricketer, Eddie played successively for Thornley, Castle Eden, Blackhall, Horden, Seaham and Mainsforth. At the highly ranked Blackhall, his enthusiasm and dedication in the late 1960s and 70s revived the club’s membership and recruited a new generation of young players to senior cricket. He rarely travelled at weekends during the cricket season without his kit and made appearances for clubs as far south as Nottinghamshire.
Eddie joined Hartlepool Operatic and Dramatic Association in the early 70s, making his directorial debut with Blithe Spirit in 1974. He later performed and/or directed with groups all over the north-east, including Opera Nova in Darlington and others in Stockton and Murton.
As well as taking “straight” roles – the press was assured that, unlike Keith Michell in the West End, he would not appear naked in Abelard and Heloise – he appeared in musicals, in which his bass baritone voice was powerfully united with his dramatic gifts, his most celebrated role being Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.
He taught and produced at Brierton comprehensive school, Hartlepool, spinning off the Brierton Players for former students who wanted to continue performing with him.
Eddie retired from teaching in the 90s, objecting to Conservative government reforms which he thought concentrated too much on exams and removed much of the creativity from education.
He was able to spend more time playing cricket and golf, singing on both sides of Tyne and Tees from the light operatic, musical or north-east dialect repertoires, and raising funds for charity through the Freemasons (in which capacity he was interviewed by the Guardian in 2006).
His activities continued almost until memory loss and a back injury forced him into hospital and then residential care in 2019; Ann also died that year.
Eddie is survived by their children, Richard, Ruth, Rachel and Rebecca, and grandchildren Molly, Joe, Isabelle and Thomas, and by his sisters, Doreen and June.
