"That wench is dark mad or wonderfully forward"

I went to school with Jim for 9 years and can confirm that he was always really really tall. If fact, I am fairly sure that he was at his tallest at age 13, almost seven foot or so it seemed to me.

Although there are hundreds of school memories, a high proportion involving a bald music teacher called Mr Geddes; I have chosen to remind the Old Silhillians of Jim’s performance as Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew.

I know that Jim enjoyed performing but I remember this particular play with great fondness for 2 particular reasons; firstly because Jim and others were able to speak to Katherine in such a wretched manner, with classics such as “Why, there's a wench! Come on and kiss me, Kate” and "That wench is dark mad or wonderfully forward" and secondly because Katherine was played by my wife.

I know Louise really enjoyed acting along side Jim and generally having a licence to thrown her weight around on the school stage. However if I have one complaint about Jim’s depiction of Petruchio it is that the “taming” possibly wasn’t strong enough, although I am sure Louise would disagree.

It is obvious from the comments on the website that Jim touched the lives of many people and he will be dreadfully missed. Louise and I would like to pass on our heart felt condolences to all of Jim’s family.

Best wishes,
Matthew & Louise

Posted on behalf of Matthew Pryke