The communities of Hornsea and East Yorkshire will greatly miss Malcolm Loades, who suddenly lost his wicket on the respectable score of 88 on 1st November 2016. Malcolm was born in Leeds, but his father’s civil service career brought the family of five to Hull when he was three years old. After Kingston High School, Malcolm did his National Service for two years in Gibraltar, before training as a teacher at Shoreditch in 1950. He touched many lives as a teacher of the arts for 60 years, in a total of 89 Hull and East Riding schools, not stopping until he was 83. Malcolm was a family man, who made sure his children enjoyed everything they did as kids. As a cricket lover, he got them interested in the three most important things in life – family, cricket and theatre. Three stumps to anchor everything. He was very proud to watching his children and grandchildren perform and play sport. He took much pleasure in watching the progress of his grandchildren. He saw Jonathan in The Sound of Music, Oliver in Matilda, and Goodnight Mr Tom, and both of them in Fagin’s Gang in Oliver. Olivia kept him interested in ballet, including The Nutcracker, while Theodore played the piano with him up to a few days before he went to hospital. Poppy and Oscar lead the way in the world of sport, including running and swimming and football and, of course, cricket. After his family, Malcolm’s greatest love was cricket. He was involved in the game at many levels: in Hull as a player, for Hull Boys as a coach and umpire, and as a Yorkshire and Scarborough Member for many years. He was proud to watch his son running down the hill at Scarborough following in the footsteps of Fred Truman. He enjoyed many back garden coaching sessions including smashing the glass back door at Eastbourne Road, something for which, of course, Matthew got the blame! Many people will remember Malcolm in the theatre, where he was well known on stage, back stage and front of house. He first really got involved during his time at college in Shoreditch, and once he moved back home he looked for a way to take this interest further. He joined The Janus Theatre, and did Rep in the 50s with them. He performed in Hull with some notable names, including John Alderton and Tom Courtney, at the start of their careers. He worked with Beverley Operatic Society (actor and stage manager), Scarborough Operatic Society (Director and actor), Hessle, Hull, Hornsea (all societies as actor, director, stage manager – including the Hornsea pantos), Northern Theatre Company, and Hull Playgoers. His many principal roles included Henry Higgins (three times), King Arthur, the Major General in Pirates, Antonio (The Merchant tarif cialis en france of Venice) and to critical acclaim as Fagin (three times, including in Raleigh, North Carolina as part of the twined towns cultural exchanges). Who will forget his Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof? All that experience was put to good use in murder nights (as the Inspector), Hull Revels, and as Father Christmas on the River Humber and for BBC Radio Humberside. In recent years, he has been a fixture as the compere of many local concerts, including those of Hornsea Music Society and Hornsea Choir. His extensive knowledge meant that he was never at a loss for something interesting to say. He was always able to supply a monologue or two to liven up the programme. Malcolm’s unexpected death has left a space in many lives. He will be remembered with much fondness. He is now implementing his plan to spend eternity with his Father, on a celestial tour of the test matches of the world. But he will be keeping an eye on us all, and looking forward to the times to come when we will all be together again.
