THIS week sees HAOS veteran Betty Coles mark 50 years on stage with the society, performing a whistlestop tour of French music in its annual Memory Lane concert.

Edith Piaf's classic Je Ne Regrette Rien is a particular favourite of her's.

One of the first thing that Betty did after moving to Hereford from Evesham aged 19 was join the Hereford Amateur Operatic Society.

"I just liked to sing and to join the society was absolutely wonderful," she said.

"I couldn't believe they accepted me, having seen one or two of their shows and seeing how good they were."

The society has been going for more than 100 years and, in her half-century, Betty has performed in more than 60 shows. Her favourite leading roles have been Aunt Ella in Oklahoma and the Duchess in Me and My Girl, both of which she has played twice.

"I looked younger playing the Duchess when I was 60 in my own skin than I did in make up at 30!"

During the decades there have been many, many good times, and lots of laughter.

Until about 20 years ago there used to be parties all the time, especially between Saturday's matinee and evening performance.

"The ladies would have a barrel of sherry in their dressing room, and invite the men in for a drink.

"It was fun but not so professional. Nowadays we aim for professional standards and there is no drinking before or during the show."

Betty used to work all day at hospital in Hereford, perform in the evening and then party 'til 3pm.

"It's very different these days - one late night and I'm finished!"

Her experience of the stage mantra 'never work with children or animals' is something she'd rather forget.

Performing in White Horse Inn at the Kemble Theatre in 1959 (the year she got married) Betty, as a goatherd, had to sing with a live goat on the end of a rope.

It began badly with the goat peeing, and the pee running through a knothole in the stage and on to the heads of the ensemble below.

As if that was not enough reason to cause the young actress to corpse, the goat had enough before the end of the song, causing Betty to exit stage left rather abruptly on the end of a rope!

Other memories include wobbly scenery needing to be held steady during romantic duets.

Very family orientated, Betty's three children were all involved in the society, either backstage or front of house, and daughter Nicky Willett currently runs the youth group.

Although her husband, Bill, has never acted with the society he has always been very supportive, and received a commendation medal for services to it.

He had the very important job of running a bar backstage, in the days when that was allowed.

Although the society now has its own clubhouse on Whitecross Road, before which it was resident at the Edgar Street starlight rooms, rehearsal space was previously a little more precarious.

"There was one time when we were rehearsing in the Market Tavern on Newmarket Street, while the ring road was being built, and for some reason we had an altercation with the management.

"We went over the road to The Wellington and, having established that they had space for us to use, decided to finish our rehearsal there.

"Which involved us carrying the piano across what was at the time a dug-up road!"

Vice-chairman for 35 years, Betty is the longest serving member in active service.

Nowadays she prefers cameo roles to being involved in the full chorus but complains about the lack of good parts for the mature lady. The competition is much tougher than it was.

"I can't think of any other hobby that would have kept me going this long, it's been thoroughly enjoyable," Betty said. "I've met so many friends."