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President - Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP
Iain Duncan Smith has become President of Chapel End Savoy Players after five years’ service as our Honorary Vice-president during which time he has been a dedicated and constant fan. The current member of parliament for Chingford and Woodford Green and former leader of HM Opposition, Iain is married to Betsy (also a keen Chapel End Savoyard) and they have four children.
After finishing his studies in Italy in 1975 he was commissioned into the Scots Guards and later saw service in Northern Ireland, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as well as Canada and Germany. It was during his army career that he decided he wanted to enter politics but felt he needed to broaden his experience first.
He left the army and spent eleven years in business culminating in a position on the board of Jane’s Information Group. After unsuccessfully contesting the Bradford West seat in 1987 he became Tory MP for Chingford in 1992 and from 1997 to 1999 was shadow Social Services Secretary and Secretary of State for Defence.
Away from the House his interests include family, football, rugby, cricket, painting, shooting and fishing. He has a number of publications to his credit including tracts on Social Security reform and the future of the European Community.
Honorary Vice-president - Jill Pert
Jill was born in Chingford and educated here and in Loughton until her family emigrated to Canada where she received a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from the University of Toronto and began her professional career. In 1979 she returned to London to join the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, touring extensively throughout the UK, Australia and New Zealand until the company closed in 1982.
When the company re-formed in 1988 Jill became its principal contralto and - as well as productions at the Savoy Theatre - toured extensively throughout the UK and the United States. She has played several roles with the Carl Rosa Opera Company and has appeared in Court No.1 at Bow Street Magistrates Court - singing the role of Counsel in “Trial By Jury” for the Covent Garden Festival!
Guest appearances with English National Opera have included the role of Lady Blanche in Ken Russell’s production of “Princess Ida”. Jill regularly appears at the G&S Buxton Festival, for example in her concert programme, “In the dusk with the light behind her”.
To indulge her love of musical theatre her non-G&S appearances have included roles in “The Sound of Music”; “Oklahoma”; “Carousel”; “My Fair Lady”; “Robert & Elizabeth”; “Oliver!”; “Into the Woods”; “Nunsense“; “Candide” and “Alice in Wonderland”.
Biographies copyright Iain Duncan Smith, Jill Pert, Rodney Smith & the webmaster, 2006
Last updated: 17 August 2008