Susan Mallinson

The late mother of #AndyMallinsonActor was the actress, singer, guest speaker and elocution teacher Susan Mallinson.

Susan was principally known for appearing as the broad Yorkshire barmaid in Britain’s longest running situation comedy Last of the Summer Wine. Despite a long career in training others to speak in Received Pronunciation (RP). Susan only ever appeared on TV in the UK speaking with a Yorkshire accent.

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The role in the BBC sitcom also led to further acting abroad. Fluent in Spanish, Susan starred in two major Spanish films. Firstly, in 2002, in the psychological thriller El Segundo Nombre (The Second Name), directed by Paco Plaza. Where Susan was playing the part of a homeless hostel keeper. Then in 2006, again in Spanish, Susan was performing another comedy role in the musical Los Managers, a film by Fernando Guillén Cuervo, where she was playing the part of Frankenheimer an American Airbase Commander.

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Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, under her maiden name of Susan College. Susan was the daughter of Molly Lilian Francis and Frank Sydney Colledge (known as Sydney Colledge).

 

Susan’s career began after studying at the  Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Susan was the youngest person at the time to gain a scholarship at the Guildhall, soon winning the Guildhall Contralto Prize then gaining her Speech and Drama Teacher’s Diploma in 1963.

At this stage, known as an opera singer, the Mezzo Soprano began living in Barcelona for four years where her training continued with the renowned singer and teacher, Conchita Badia, who also taught the world-famous Montserrat Caballe. For two consecutive years, Susan was given a grant by the Spanish Government to attend Musica en Compostela, an international course on the interpretation of Spanish music in Santiago de Compostela. On returning from Spain Susan went on to record a LP, which was privately funded and was never publically released.

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On returning to the UK, Susan soon met the Yorkshire businessman Stuart Mallinson in London. They had common interests with Mallinson previously performing in regional theatre as part of Huddersfield Repertory Company.  

After marrying, both moved to the picturesque Summer Wine town of Holmfirth, in the Yorkshire Pennines.

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Susan opened her own school of speech and drama in Holmfirth, in West Yorkshire, in 1980, followed by a kindergarten in Wooldale, and later, The Speech Studio, in Holmfirth in 1994.

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Susan became a leading elocution teacher and was sought after for training footballers, presenters, newscasters, clergy and the judiciary in the art of public speaking. 

As a licentiate of the Guildhall, Susan led thousands of pupils to examination successes, through private tuition. She also taught at a number of Yorkshire's private schools including Wakefield Girls High School (WGHS), Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QUEGS), Heathfield School, in Rishworth, and Huddersfield’s The Mount.

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Susan developed breast cancer, and received treatment, later celebrating when this went into remission.

In later years, she also entertained thousands as a guest speaker on cruise ships, including those of P&O and Fred Olsen. Despite fading health, towards the end of her life, Susan was also giving talks to many local interest groups all over the north of England.

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Her son Andy Mallinson only began acting whilst living with and caring for Susan on the return of her cancer in 2015.

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Susan died, on Saturday 30th July 2016, at the age of 73. The following year Andy began acting and occasionally presenting on local BBC radio. The positive feedback Andy received lead to Andy pursuing other acting engagements in tv and film.

 

Andy credits his mum Susan, and grandmother the Chesterfield performer Molly Francis as both being influential in his decision to begin acting. Andy has published this page as a small acknowledgment of that influence.