A STAGE singer who "never dropped a note" in 50 years of playing the lead in musicals has died, aged 87.
Allestree's Connie Mason won many standing ovations at venues including Derby's Playhouse, the Theatre Royal, in Nottingham, and London's Scala Theatre.
For years, she was a key member of the Rolls-Royce Operatic Society, the Derby College Music Society and St Nicholas' Players – a group at her local church.
The singer died peacefully at the Royal Derby Hospital. Her family said she had suffered from heart problems.
Close friend and co-stage performer Ann Stewart paid tribute to Connie.
"She never forgot her lines or dropped a note," Ann said. "She was a one-off and an extremely good friend."
Connie's husband of 62 years, Phil Mason, added: "She adored singing. I met her at a hall in Arnold, where she was singing. She was a beautiful girl so I asked her to dance. I ended up marrying the cream of the crop."
Connie's stage career began in 1950 at the Theatre Royal in her then home town, Nottingham. She played the lead in the operetta-style musical Rose-Marie, as well as in Lisbon Story and Perchance to Dream.
In 1957, Connie moved to London with her husband and joined the New Malden Co-Operative Amateur Operatic Society, where producers cast her as the lead in three musicals at the Scala Theatre – Rebel Maid, Oklahoma and The Lilac Domino.
After a number of years in the capital, Connie and Phil – who had two daughters, Kathryn and Elizabeth – moved back to the East Midlands.
Connie joined the Rolls-Royce Amateur Operatic Society, where she clocked up 18 years as a member.
Again, she played mainly lead roles – mostly at shows at Derby's former Odeon building in London Road.
"There were 2,000 seats and she filled it every night," recalled Ann. "I'll never forget that."
Connie was also a member of the Derby College Music Society from 1969 to 1990 and performed in shows including Pirates of Penzance, The Boyfriend and Ruddigore.
She also clocked up 24 appearances for the Morrison School of Dance in Nottingham. Connie was also a founding member of the St Nicholas Players group in Allestree, for whom she starred in shows – particularly pantos – between 1963 and 1990.
Furthermore, she clocked up 50 years in the choir at St Nicholas' Church, in Allestree, where her funeral will be held on December 6.
