Codford residents will be very sad to say goodbye to Karen Johnstone who is a stalwart of the village and surrounding community.  Karen is thought of as kind, straight forward, efficient and well organised in everything she does.

She was a longstanding member of the parish council, during her time she was one of the main organisers of various community events including, but not limited to, Street Parties, Royal Wedding and Jubilee celebrations, Trafalgar Day and WW1 and WW2 events. She was also one of the founder members of the Codford Badge Committee and she hosted the first badge clean lunch in her house – needless to say, there were fewer people then.

For years she organised regular theatre trips to London, to the Globe and to Southampton.  These only ceased because the cost of transport added to high ticket prices made the trips uneconomical. 

Karen’s passions are gardening and the theatre.  Karen had a theatrical background her parents were professional actors.  She was involved with our very own Woolstore Theatre, for at least 72 productions that we know of, she was involved in prompting, wardrobe, writing scripts and of course, directing many productions to a very high standard.  She was also instrumental in the Woolstore renovations. 

Karen was awarded an MBE for services to the community and to the theatre in the New Year’s Honours List in 2000.

Karen Johnstone - A “tour de force”; Angus Bramwell and Jenny Johnson, Woolstore Theatre.

I first encountered Karen in 1989.  I had heard about her from members of the club and was in awe even before our meeting.  My first faux pas was in the pronunciation of her name.  I never could get used to “Cairan” and always used Karen but to my amazement and gratitude she never once corrected me.  In all other matters she was forthright, funny, generous, hugely knowledgeable and above all talented.  For those who witnessed her ‘Berlington Bertie’ her skill and abilities were very evident.  I was delighted when she picked me to play the headmistress of the girls’ school in, ‘Daisy Pulls It Off’.  The newly installed overhead electric heaters were to be used for the first time.  Opening night, heaters were switched on, and to the accompaniment of a tremendous bang and a lot of backstage smoke, the entire theatre was plunged into darkness.  Eventually, an emergency electrician restored order, and we played first night to a very merry audience with red heads, courtesy of free drinks from the bar and radiant heaters!  

It was the beginning of a long working partnership.  It wasn’t long before I became secretary to Karen’s chairmanship of the Committee and was privileged to be part of the modernisation of the interior of the theatre.  Her skills as an organiser and delegator were thoroughly exercised during this period of momentous change.  She had the wisdom to let people get on with their jobs and the theatre you know today is the result.

Karen had a variety of expressions she used regularly, among them “honey-lamb”, (you were either in good books or she’d forgotten your name); “the audience are paying to see you, you must be the best you can”; “eyes and teeth everyone, at least look as though you’re enjoying it”; or the most dreaded, “if I don’t see a big improvement by next week, I’ll pull it!”  While she was in charge, she strove to make us as near professional as she possibly could.  This entailed her sneaking into a rehearsal near production and watching another director and cast at work.  If she sneaked out, you knew she was happy.  If she didn’t then words would be said at the end of the rehearsal.  I only once saw her interrupt a rehearsal and this was only to be constructive.

Karen was passionate about the theatre, if you committed to something you saw it through no matter what.  In this, she led by example.  

I consider myself fortunate to have witnessed her work, received instruction and technique advice; still using her ethos as my guiding light.

I'd describe her as a tour de force, you always knew where you stood and could rely on her forthright, no-nonsense style.  On one occasion when words were very rocky, I remember her saying "shall we just give the audiences scripts and be done with it?"! 

On a personal note, I performed in at least 10 productions under her direction, and she gave me some challenging and enormously enjoyable roles. She even gave me my first dame!

She was always very supportive to me as an actor and over recent years has given me great encouragement in my role as Chairman. With Karen, one always has to read between the lines to hear the compliment, but you knew when it was there! The end of another Woolstore era.