Paula Hall (née Tilbrook)

Paula Tilbrook married husband, Les Hall, in Altrincham in 1952 and they both joined the Garrick in the 1960s, with Les in the Sound Box and Paula on stage.

Her first Garrick appearances were in 1963 in The Hostage by Brendan Behan, and as Maggie in When We Are Married. Throughout the 1960s, she appeared in numerous productions such as Spring and Port Wine and another production of When We Are Married (this time as Clara Soppitt). She was also a regular ASM backstage and an occasional director.

In addition, she played a full part in the social life of the Garrick, her final appearance being in an Old Time Music Hall, when she performed, as a guest, in the Bar in 1976.

When she turned professional in 1969 as Paula Tilbrook, she became a household name, appearing first in The Dustbinmen, then in Last of the Summer Wine, Open All Hours, and Coronation Street. Her most famous role, from was as Betty Eagleton in Emmerdale, a part she played from 1994 for  21 years.