Steeton Hall Gateway

South Milford & Lumby

North Yorkshire
 
 
Rosemarie Ford
This page is dedicated to South Milford's very own Stage & TV personality.

Although Rosemarie was born in the neighbouring village of Sherburn-in-Elmet and also lived for a time at Micklefield she considers South Milford to be her "home".  It was South Milford that Rosemarie moved with her parents at the age of five. She attended the village Primary School, somewhat reluctantly at first, running away when the time came to leave for school. Her first teacher at school was Mrs. Burnley, who's husband was the headmaster.
The first dancing experience for Rosemarie was with the local 'Barbara Loy Dancing School' at the village Church Hall.
Later, she attended the Leeds based 'Jean Pearce Dance School'. It was here that all her dance training was carried out.

Rosemarie's first experience of television shows came at the age of 8 years with appearances in many of Yorkshire Television's productions of "Junior Showtime".
Almost every year she also appeared in Milford Mini Theatre productions, an annual event staged by South Milford's Esme Ward in the Church Hall. This was always a family occasion with Rosemarie's father involved 'backstage'.
At the age of eleven senior school at Sherburn High beckoned, but due to a fire which destroyed the bulk of the school, her first high school year was spent at Clifford. At sixteen all Rosemarie wanted to do was dance. No amount of persuading could keep her at school to study for other qualifications.

Although qualified as a "dance teacher" all that beckoned was the footlights. Her first job came after auditioning for "Dougie Squires 2nd Generation". This turned out to be a "summer season" with Les Dawson at Bridlington Spa Theatre. The weekend before saw Rosemarie winning the "Miss Dance of Great Britain" competition, this after just gaining her first job was the 'icing on the cake'.

Numerous TV shows followed.  Morecambe & Wise, Little & Large, and Lena Zavaroni to name but some, along with seven Royal Variety Performances, either solo or part of a stage production.
Further experience was gained with parts in West End productions of the musicals "Juke Box", "Me And My Girl" and "Time" with Cliff Richard as well as a production of "Is There Life After High School" at "The Donmar Warehouse"  theatre.
A touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Song and Dance" and  the 'West End' Cole Porter musical "CanCan" along with a world tour as backing singer to Cliff Richard gave her the experience of both provincial and world theatres.
Wow
Following this, Rosemarie auditioned and won a part in the 1st tour of "Cats". It was onone particular night of this tour that the leading lady became indisposed and Rosemarie was asked to stand in at short notice to take her part. Unknown to Rosemarie it just so happened that on this night non other than Andrew Lloyd Webber was in the audience. He was so impressed by her performance of Isabella he asked her to sing "Memory" and "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" at the Royal Variety Performance that year.
It was during this performance that Bruce Forsyth, who was watching the show and was looking for a new assistant for "The Generation Game" spotted her and asked her to audition for the programme and as they say,  "the rest is history".
As a result of "The Generation Game" many opportunities opened up. One of these enabled Rosemarie to fulfil a lifelong dream to play 'Principal Boy' in a leading Panto, a part she has enjoyed on many  occasions.

After the Generation Game television shows such as "Come Dancing" and "Rolf's Amazing World of Animals" followed.

other Theatre credits.....
  • The London Company of "Cats"
  •  
  • Divorce Me Darling" at the Chichester Festival Theatre
  •  
  • Songs From The Shows tour with Sacha Distel
 other TV credits ....
  • Harry Enfield Shows
  •  
  • Rolf's Cat Crazy
  •  
  • a DIY slot on GMT
on Radio .....
  • Do You Come Here Often"
on Video .....
  • the video version of "Cats"
CD ..... 
  • I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Since the birth of her two sons, Samuel and James, Rosemarie has cut back on her work considerably to savour the joys of motherhood, but still manages to fit in the occasional work she so enjoys.
She has appeared in a touring production called "The Wonderful West End", a show bringing together the songs and dance of all the very best of many West End shows.
A "Dance Video" has also been produced in which Rosemarie is the presenter, linking the various themes on the tape. Rosemarie still keeps her feet firmly on the ground. There is nothing she likes better than to return home to South Milford to unwind and relish in her Mum's dumplings and meat and potato pie. In the summer of 2006 Rosemarie returned home to open the church Garden Fete at Monk Fryston.
Her interests outside the theatre are cycling, DIY and her beloved English Mastiff 'Chelsea', but most of all now, sons Sam and James.
Her musical tastes range from Celine Dion to Classical, particularly the piano works of Rachmaninov, but her all time favourites are, and will remain Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand and all things "Musical".
In fact during the late stages of her first pregnancy she was caught dancing around the house to the songs of Barbra Streisand.
Rosemarie is married to actor Robert Lindsay, star of BBC sitcom My Family. The wedding took place on New Year's Eve 2006.

Will she ever stop dancing !!!  We sincerely hope not.

Rosemarie interviewed by
Peter Watkinson
November 2000