SIR – The recently published report of David Humphries being chosen as one of the bearers when the Olympic torch comes to Worcester (Worcester News, April 9) reflected credit not only on him but also on the youngsters who nominated him for the honour.

Thirty years ago David Humphries co-founded Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society Youth Section, since when he has worked tirelessly to build it into the thoroughly ‘professional’ group it is today.

Every Saturday morning, starting in January, he rehearses the youngsters in the musical they will be staging at the Swan Theatre in the summer. Many Sunday mornings are also devoted to rehearsals of principal characters and this goes on until the show opens at the end of July.

Show over and there is a short break until workshops are started, to be followed in the autumn by auditions for the many youngsters aged eight to 18 who want to become members of WODYS.

There is an academy where those who fail to get through the auditions are schooled in stagecraft to equip them for another bid for membership.

In January auditions are held for the next summer show and the rehearsals get under way again.

Throughout the year David Humphries devotes countless hours to working with the youngsters.

There was a time when work would take him abroad and it was not unusual for him to turn up at Saturday morning rehearsals having come straight from a transatlantic overnight flight.

Add to the rehearsals the amount of behind-the-scenes work he has to put in and his devotion to the group becomes obvious.

It is this dedicated approach to running WODYS that has earned David Humphries the unconditional respect of the youngsters, many of whom have over the years gone on to work in the professional theatre.

It is what led the youngsters to nominate him as an Olympic torch bearer.

After all, he has been carrying a torch for WODYS for the past 30 years. David inspires respect and not only among his members. I provide coffee and biscuits for him and his team at those Saturday morning rehearsals and count it a privilege to do so.

JOHN ABBS
Worcester

PICTURE CAPTION: CARRYING THE FLAME: Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society’s chairman David Humphries, who has been selected to carry the Olympic torch in Malvern, with some of WODYS members, including Jodie Howlan , in the white jumpe , and Ben Robinson, striped top, who put the nomination forward on behalf of the other youngsters.