An actor who stepped in to the shoes of his great-great grandfather to portray his life in a play has been awarded the best actor trophy in a UK amateur dramatics festival.

John Walker was presented with the award for his role in the play ’A Perfect Gentleman’, which was performed by the local drama group Hog The Limelight at the Northern Semi-Finals of the All England Theatre Festival, held at Saltburn by the Sea, North Yorkshire, during the first week in May.

’The Perfect Gentleman’ is based around letters written by Manx soldier Lt Col. Cyril Walker MC during the First World War, and John took the role of his descendant, Ronald Walker.

Also featured in the cast of the play were Rachael Joughin, who played Cyril’s wife, Dolly, Liz Wood and Norman McGregor Edwards who appeared as his father, John Ely. Liz Wood was The Maid.

In addition to John’s award, Rachel was nominated for best actress and the writer of the piece, Sharon Mitchell, was also in consideration for the adjudicator’s award for her writing and direction of the play.

Hog the Limelight had already tasted success with their performance of the Perfect Gentleman, after the play won a total of seven awards at the recent Festival of One Act Plays, held in the island in February.

One of the rewards for their success in the Manx festival was an invitation to take part in the UK festival, where they faced stiff competition from amateur dramatic groups from all over the North of England.

Norman McGregor Edwards, from the Hog The Limelight team, said they were thrilled with their success, and that it was entirely unexpected.

’We went there with no great expectations, as we were up against teams from Newcastle, Sunderland and elsewhere.

’We received some very positive reviews, especially from the adjudicators, who were delighted that a team from the Isle of Man had actually made the effort to come to the festival at all.

’After receiving this latest award, and also the nominations, it is fair to say we are pretty chuffed.’

Norman also said that Hog The Limelight were planning to perform the play later on in the year to coincide with the 2018 commemorations of the hundred years since the First World War ended.