Tributes have been paid to an elderly amateur actor who died after a seaside accident.

John Sellicks, 81, from Folkestone, was one of the best known amateur actors in Kent.

In a career spanning 65 years he made more than 300 hundred appearances in plays and musicals across the county.

Mr Sellicks is thought to have died after suffering a heart attack and falling over a seafront barrier between Sunny Sands and Copt Point, Folkestone.

His body was discovered on rocks close to the water’s edge by a walker and was recovered by an RNLI lifeboat crew.

The news of his death has devastated the amateur dramatics community.
Fellow actor and life-long friend John Elgar, from Ashford, said: “John was hooked from the first moment his feet trod the boards.

“He lived and breathed the theatre and was an extremely talented man. He will be sorely missed in our lives and in the life of local theatre all over Kent.”

Mr Sellicks, who was once described by the Guardian newspaper as the Alistair Sim of the amateur theatre, first appeared on the stage in 1944 with the Young People’s Fellowship in South Ashford in a play called True Love Triumphant.

It was to be the first of hundreds of appearances.
Mr Sellicks, who retired to Folkestone from Ashford 15 years ago, was in great demand as an actor.

He performed with many groups and societies across the county including; The Ashford Players, Ashford Associates, FHODS, and the Ellen Terry Barn theatre in Smallhythe where he delivered many of his finest performances.

Just two days before his death he had been enjoying a reunion with friends at The Elwick Club in Ashford where two of his closest friends June and Brian Armon were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mrs Armon said: “We are simply devastated by John’s death. He has been our dear friend for more than 40 years and we have always thought of him as family.

“We are just so pleased he was able to spend time with us and all his friends before he died, we will miss him so very much.”

John Sellicks’ funeral will be held at Charing Crematorium on Wednesday, July 22 at 2pm.