28/12/2025
🍦 Interval Flashback: A Decade of Milestones (1982–1989) 🍦
While you enjoy your interval refreshments, let's take a chronological journey through the 1980s. It was a decade of secrets revealed, new arrivals, and major awards!
🦷 1982: The Secret Identity
We kick off with a brilliant 1982 interview titled "Thanks should go to the dentist." It revealed that while Felixstowe knew him as "Mr. Entertainment," Dennis Lowe's day job was actually a dentist! The reporter joked that if Dennis hadn't moved to town, "his molars might not have been in such good nick... but the town would be a sad and sorry place" without his shows.
👶 1984: A New Star is Born
In October 1984, the biggest production of the year wasn't on stage—it was in the maternity ward! The papers announced that Dennis and Sylvia had welcomed their daughter, Suzanne. Dennis described the birth as "a most beautiful and marvellous experience".
🏆 1988: A Major Honour
By 1988, Dennis was celebrating 50 years in showbiz. To mark the occasion, he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club—the first time this honour was ever given to a non-Rotarian in Felixstowe! It recognized his outstanding service and the £50,000 he had raised for the Felixstowe Mencap society.
🥚 1989 (January): The 96-Inch Waistline
Dennis returned to the panto stage for Humpty Dumpty with a "96-inch waistline" in the title role! The show featured topical jokes about Edwina Currie and starred Chris Fryer as the Dame (Old Mother Hubbard) and Allison Walker as the villain Blackheart.
🎩 1989 (April): Following in Father's Footsteps
Just a few months later, at age four, young Suzanne Lowe made her proper stage debut! She donned a top hat and tails to perform "Stepping Out With My Baby" alongside her dad in the Irving Berlin tribute show. The press declared she was already "following in the family’s footsteps".
Enjoy the second half of the show! 👏👏
