Edward Alan Talbot We are saddened to learn of Ted\u2019s passing on 14 August.\u00a0 Ted was an active member of GEDS for many years. He served on the committee twice from 1982-87 and again from 2002-2009. He held the post of treasurer for a total of 10 years but also turned his hand to Business Manager one season and Newsletter Editor another.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Whilst on the committee he would willingly skipper us in his motorboat across the lake from Nyon to Messery for our annual summer committee meeting chez Nathalie.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n One of his major contributions to the society was taking on and running the GEDS youth group THE EDGE , initially started as a playreading group for young people by Malcolm Grant passed to Beverley Rousset then in 2004 taken on by Ted. He went on to produce 5 full stage productions for them between 2005 and 2009, The Magical<\/em> Voyage of Ulysses<\/em>, Carpe Jugulum<\/em> , \u2018Allo \u2018Allo<\/em>, A Flea in her Ear<\/em>, \u00a0and St Trinians<\/em>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n See Beverley Rousset\u2019s piece about Ted and The Edge below.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n From 1978 to 2009 he acted in 14 GEDS plays, his first was Richard<\/em> III in 1978 and the last time he appeared on stage was in It Runs in the<\/em> Family<\/em>. He also helped build many sets for both GEDS and GAOS.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n From 2010 onwards he devoted more of his time to Friends of India, as treasurer, doing much of the administrative work and also travelling for the charity.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He will also be remembered for his Musical Drop Ins which he held in his home once a month on Sunday evenings to listen to live music and which over the years were enjoyed by many.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He didn\u2019t let the Parkinson\u2019s that took away his ability to walk and stand deter from him coming along to enjoy the GEDS barn BBQ and the summer playreadings in our garden, though sadly we didn\u2019t see him attend either this year.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Our sincere condolences go to his 3 children, Greg, Emilie and Laura<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Funeral will take place on Saturday 9 September at 4pm in the Gingins Temple.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is the family\u2019s wish that to reflect their father\u2019s personality, those attending wear light or colourful clothing.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Jane Easton<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div> TED and THE EDGE<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n GEDS youth drama group was initially started by Malcolm Grant who brought together a group of young people enthusiastic about the theatre. \u00a0Due to professional commitments Malcolm persuaded Beverley Rousset to take\u00a0over this initiative and a new group, many of whom were family of GEDS members, met on Saturday afternoons to rehearse small pieces to be presented at a GEDS playreading evening.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The \u00a0success of this group among English-speaking \u00a014 – 17 year olds encouraged the Committee to establish a stronger basis for young actors, and Ted stepped up to take over the leadership with a view to directing and producing the group in their own full productions .<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n One of Ted’s initial tasks was to draw up a \u201cCharter\u201d which members and their parents were required to sign and which ensured that parents were informed about, and happy with, allowing the extra homework activity and presence at rehearsals, etc. which membership of the group required.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ted then recruited directors from among GEDS members and among those who stepped up were Richard Walsh and Jenny Buffle.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps the most memorable of THE EDGE\u2019s productions were :<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n St. Trinians<\/em><\/strong> – for which Ted undertook extensive special effects and part of which was filmed at the Geneva English School.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Feydeau\u2019s A Flea in Her Ear<\/em><\/strong> – a very different kind of production for members, who found it a difficult play in rehearsal but who rose to the \u00a0challenge and produced superb performances.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And the runaway success, the comedy Allo, Allo<\/em><\/strong> which was blessed with a particularly talented and committed cast who delighted their audiences.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ted\u2019s enthusiasm ensured that he always got the best out of the young actors and his\u00a0imagination, theatrical knowledge and commitment took THE EDGE forward to being a group where members – and their parents – learned not only about drama but also about backstage. \u00a0 Young people joined who wanted to know how\u00a0about\u00a0sound and\u00a0lights and stage management. \u00a0– and many of their parents also became interested and joined GEDS.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Beverley Rousset<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div> From Roland Nathaniel <\/strong>(played\u00a0<\/strong>Ren\u00e9 in\u00a0Allo Allo\u00a0<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201c\u00a0I am very sorry to hear of Ted’s passing. I have fond memories of him and his leadership of Edge<\/em>. The plays that he directed brought such joy to me and my loved ones.\u00a0I also continue to count among my closest friends some of the people I met through Edge <\/em>– Gabriella and Alex Docherty, Peter Barrow, Alex Salvi. All thanks to Ted. \u00a0\u00a0I am living in London now and regretfully won\u2019t be able to attend the memorial service.”<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From Gabriella Doherty<\/strong> (Madame Edith in \u00a0Allo Allo<\/em> )<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201c\u00a0I’m extremely saddened to hear this news about Ted. Please pass my condolences onto his family.\u00a0 I have so many fond memories of Ted and The Edge<\/em> drama club. \u00a0 Having moved to Geneva from the UK, for a long time I found it difficult to feel settled and \u00a0to feel like Switzerland was home. \u00a0 Joining Edge<\/em> in my teens was a real turning point for me and life became much happier.\u00a0 Ted worked so hard to make Edge<\/em> the success that it was, even organising boat trips for us to go on \u2013 I’ll always remember his generosity, passion and love for theatre. \u00a0 I’m still in regular contact with a number of friends from Edge <\/em>and I’ve passed the news along to them. I now live and work in London so it will be difficult for me to join the memorial, but if I can make it work I would love to be there.”<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div> From Alexander Doherty, a member of The Edge<\/i> <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n It is with great sadness that I recently heard of the passing of Ted Talbot. I had the privilege of working with him during the productions of Carpe Jugulum and Allo Allo (perhaps you remember the German Colonel von Str\u00f6m with chips in his ears?). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Edge was always a safe space for me and looking back I only now realise the value and importance it held in my life. I regret not having reached out to Ted and thanking him personally, but I wanted you and his close relations to know how many happy moments he brought to me and my family. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In the back of my mind, Ted stood perhaps in the illusion that he was impermanent to the changes of time, skiing with his hip replacements, continuously working on new shows and projects, organising trips and holidays for others without end. I will always carry his memory with great care and fondness in my heart.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n From Malcolm Grant<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I met Ted properly when we were\u00a0 both cast in a revival of Habeas\u00a0Corpus in the\u00a0early 2003, directed by Julian Finn. He played Mr Shanks, a salesman and “fitter” of false boobs, having to handle the goods in situ. A farce of course but Ted brought his enormous\u00a0physical comedy to the role, amplifying the text with arms flailing\u00a0and larger than life double takes. All exactly\u00a0what the role required. He was a joy to be around, well read and in permanent good humour.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I was so\u00a0pleased he took over the role of the youth group and produced\u00a0great work with them and I recall discussing and loaning him various potential scripts for the project. His production of “Allo Allo” with The Edge was a joy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I last saw Ted at the summer playreading in 2020, at which time his illness had impacted his mobility but seemed not to have diminished his positivity and humour.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>
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