Patsy Rowlands

Patricia Amy Rowlands was born in Palmer's Green, north London on 19 January 1931 to Albert and Amy. She was educated at the Covent of the Sacred Heart in Whetstone. Her parents encouraged her to have elocution lessons to improve her employment prospects. It was her elocution tutor who recognized her acting potential and encouraged her to apply to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She won a scholarship there at the age of fifteen, coming top in the whole of England. Patricia's first professional appearance was in the chorus for the touring version of 'Annie Get Your Gun' in 1950, featuring Lionel Blair. Venues included the King's Theatre, Portsmouth in August and the Theatre Royal, Dublin in November. Now known as Patsy, she made her West End debut in 1958 as Doris Hare's granddaughter in 'Valmouth', Sandy Wilson's musical about a spa town where the aged residents enjoy a prolonged sex life. As Thetis Tooke, the country lass pining for her absent sailor boy, she gave a subtly