Tributes paid to Bury St Edmunds theatre champion Daphne Dyer who co-founded Suffolk Young People's Theatre

A former teacher and youth theatre champion who has been described as a 'bundle of energy' has died aged 91.

Daphne Dyer, who died on Friday, was a former head of year and head of PE at Hardwick Middle School in Bury St Edmunds and had always been involved in youth drama and activity.

Her daughter Laura Dyer said her mother will have 'touched an enormous number of young people's lives' through her years as a teacher and supporting Suffolk Young People's Theatre (SYPT).

When husband Ray Dyer set up SYPT in 1979, two years after moving to Bury, Daphne threw herself into the charity and throughout the years could often be seen working behind the scenes as production manager or even making trays of sandwiches.

Daphne took on an even more active role when Ray died in 2007 and continued a close commitment to SYPT.

Laura, Deputy Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: "She was a bundle of energy and activity and her years as a PE teacher made her a good organiser.

"What she and my dad did was really open up opportunities and access to people to be involved in all kinds of arts and culture, be that as a performer or backstage or as a musician. They had the belief that opportunity should be available whatever your background or income."

Nigel Turner, former chairman at SYPT, said: "She was a wonderful, iconic figure in the youth theatre world particularly.

"I moved to the area to teach drama at King Edward VI School and I met Daphne and Ray through that process and through our youngest son, Matt, who was interested in theatre and drama.

"Matt was part of SYPT for many years and took part in a number of their shows. They were very supportive of him and he's been a professional actor for 10 years as a good number of actors who were in SYPT now in fact are."

Ian Shipley, Chair of Trustees at SYPT, added that there will be a tribute to Daphne later in the year.

"Daphne would undoubtedly want the show to go on and a tribute will be paid to her in performance later this year," he said.

As well as working within youth theatre, Daphne was also a governor at Sexton's Manor Primary School for a number of years, retiring in her 80s, was a committee member for the WI until her death, and had also been involved in the Irving Stage Company.

Instead of flowers, Laura asks for donations to be made to SYPT.

The website can be found here.