WOODHOUSE Operatic Society had a special visitor during this week’s final run of rehearsals for their West Yorkshire premiere of Witches of Eastwick.

For one of the society’s former members is Kirklees Mayor Clr Jean Calvert.

And she popped in to check on the progress of the production and also to watch daughter Suzie – one of the seven-strong dancing team – in action.

Jean, who comes to the end of her mayoral year in May, is no stranger to the stage.

She performed in 10 shows with Slaithwaite Amateur Operatic Society before joining Woodhouse for a couple of shows in the late 70s.

She said: “I moved to Deighton in 1974 and took part in a couple of shows, when they were staged at Deighton Secondary School, before children and family commitments took over.”

She was in the chorus for the production of Magyar Melody in 1979 and The Merry Widow the following year.

Four of the company who were in Magyar Melody will be on stage again next week at the LBT.

They are husband and wife team David and Lynne Sellens – who actually met during rehearsals for that particular show – Claire Blacker, who joins Suzie as one of the dancers, and David Lockwood.

Suzie Calvert followed in her mum’s footsteps.

As a former dancer with Audrey Spencer’s School of Dancing she quickly became involved in operatic society productions, having been in three shows with Kirklees Youth Performing Arts Company, before joining Woodhouse for Hot Mikado in 2003.

Since that date she has performed in Guys and Dolls, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Bugsy Malone and Buddy Holly last year.

And she will no doubt get the mayoral seal of approval next Wednesday, when mum Jean will be in the LBT audience to cheer on her daughter, who is keeping up the family tradition.

The Witches of Eastwick opens on Tuesday at 7.15pm.