AN amateur dramatic group is to stage its pantomime in January in memory of one of its members who died earlier this year.

Thirsk and Sowerby Amateur Players did not stage a pantomime in 2001 after cancelling the event when the group heard one of its hardest working members had been diagnosed with a serious illness.

Preparations were well under way last year for the 2001 pantomime when Jean Kaye became ill. She had been responsible for costumes, properties and helped backstage since 1992.

Graham Foxton, publicity officer, said: "The show was cancelled immediately when we found out how ill Jean was. Sadly, she died in early January just around the time that we would have been on stage."

Mr Foxton said the group was determined to produce the show this year and dedicate it to her memory.

They are also going to make an annual presentation of a shield to the adult member of the group who contributes the most each year, in her name.

Sleeping Beauty will be staged at Thirsk Town Hall nightly from Tuesday, January 8 to Saturday, January 12, when there will also be a matinee performance. Tickets are available from Cobblestones tea room and Bateman's Yard in Thirsk from December 10, or from the Amateur's ticket hotline on (01845) 523293