Panto dame credits the stage with reducing stammer

A Devon pantomime dame has said performing on stage has helped him tackle his stammer.

Lloyd Moritmore, a member of the Moorland Merrymakers amateur dramatics group, has spent the last 50 years on stage at Christmas.

The 69-year-old, who works as a Dartmoor farmer, said growing up was not easy due to his stammer, which he still had, but he had no relief from it until he discovered the stage.

"From then on, for 50 years I've been on stage and I can honestly say I have never stammered on stage," he said.

Speaking to John Acres at Breakfast on BBC Radio Devon, Mr Mortimore said: "It's a bit special and a bit personal for me.

"I suffered from a stammer greatly as a child and a teenager, and things weren't easy growing up.

"But, when I joined the local amateur dramatics group, at the first show the producer asked me to say one line and it worried me to death.

"I did this line but it was totally inaudible because I said it too fast and the audience were in absolute laughter.

"But that was like a switch because they weren't laughing at me, they were laughing with me."

Mr Mortimore said pantomime had played a "major part" in his life.

While he stammered when he was not on stage, he said his speech impediment "disappears" as soon as he entered the limelight.

He said he "can't explain" why his stammer went away on stage but described it as "fantastic".

Mr Mortimore's group finished performing Treasure Island at Leusdon Memorial Hall near Poundsgate at the weekend, which marked his last ever performance.

The show included his daughter and granddaughter, where a ceremony was held which saw him burn his panto dame bra.

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