TRIBUTES have been paid to a former funeral director who played a major part in bringing entertainment to the upper dale.
John Wise, who died on February 3, was instrumental in bringing top opera singers to perform in Teesdale and was also heavily involved in amateur dramatics.
Mr Wise was born in Darlington on June 8, 1944, and initially started out as a plasterer.
It was while working in Teesdale that he spotted a plot for sale in Mickleton, and in 1977 David and Percy Nicholson built a family home for Mr Wise, his wife Ann and children Andrew and Kate.
His daughter, Kate, said: “Dad then started to work for David and Percy and David’s two sons, Andrew and David. Among many of their jobs in the dale was to build the Old Forge Surgery in Middleton-in-Teesdale around 1980.
“When it came to plastering dad was a perfectionist and he liked to leave his mark, and the surgery like many attics in the dale will have his initials and a date inscribed. One of his big loves was music – Andrew Nicholson would say he would drive them mad singing all day on a job.”
Mr Wise later became self-employed before making a career change to become a funeral director when he bought Gordon Coastworth’s business in Mickleton.
In his spare time Mr Wise joined the Mad Mads amateur dramatics group and later the Male Voice Choir, performing concerts throughout Teesdale.
His daughter said: “The male voice choir and the Teesdale ladies choir appeared on Harry Secombe’s TV programme Highway in 1990 performing ‘Sweet Vale of the Tees’ in Newbiggin Methodist Chapel. This video was shown as part of the thanksgiving service in memory of John in St Mary’s Church Barnard Castle last week.
“He was immensely proud to join the choir of Northern Opera based in Newcastle of which he would organise coach trips from the dale to see the latest productions such as Bizet’s Carmen and Puccini’s La Boheme. He also arranged for key singers to come and perform well known arias from operas at Mickleton Village Hall.”
Ill health led to Mr Wise selling his business to John Blenkiron and Sons although he continued watching and listening to operas. His health had deteriorated more in later years and he died peacefully at Lyon’s Court Care Home, in Evenwood, with his family around him.
His daughter added: “He will be sorely missed by so many.”
