Meet Your Neighbours

Drama and excitement have enveloped Lucy Mills for most of her life.

A Cochrane resident for almost two years, her latest challenge is directing a cast of 30, aged three to 73, some with no acting experience, in the world premier of a pantomime about King Arthur and his Knights called Knight Fever.

Lucy’s Vision Theatre assistant director jokingly calls her “dragon breath.”

She carries a whistle at rehearsals, and keeps pen and paper by her bed in case ideas come to her during the night for spicing up the play.

When, early into this venture, they lost their rehearsal room, and then their set builder, she told her husband and “best friend” of 21 years, Alan: “It’s stressful at times, but it’s what I love doing.”

The wording on one of her table plaques explains her approach: “Crisis of today is joke of tomorrow.”

Since moving from England several years ago, Cochranite Lucy Mills has brought her passion for singing and theatre. She is currently directing Vision Theatre’s production of the pantomime Knight Fever. (Photo by Andy Marshall)

Also in her repertoire is an unbreakable spirit, a cheerful and inventive energy, experiences in theatre going back two decades, and a career as a singer in bands stretching back two decades before that.

Lucy’s also a qualified Canadian ski instructor, has studied and practised clinical hypnotherapy and counselling, and is currently taking early learning and childcare full-time at Bow Valley College in Calgary, with a view to operating her own childcare centre with a western, rural theme.

Since first visiting Banff from their native England 12 years ago to ski, Lucy and Alan set their hearts on living here. Struck by the western ways, she ended up with seven pairs of cowboy boots and nine cowboy hats. She bought a horse, a western saddle and a maple leaf flag for their Essex home.

They visited every year — one year they came on six trips — until they came for good, bringing the horse, two border collies, three cats, and later adopting an orphan ram.

Her plans to be a full-time student and Alan’s expertise in medical and technical sales helped them acquire the necessary visas.

Born in Hackney, in London’s centre, she had a tough upbringing as her separated mother frequently moved. Lucy attended 21 different schools, always “the new girl.”

“Nobody who knows me now would believe I was so shy then,” said the just-turned-58-year-old.

Her mother, also a singer, pushed her reluctant daughter into talent competitions where she did well. Music was constantly playing in the house.Before she was 18, Lucy joined a band and performed regularly. She once fronted for Jethro Tull at a university concert.

“I was so frightened about going on stage. I used to want to vomit,” she recalled.

The band manager helped her through her terrors.

“Real confidence didn’t come until my early 30s,” she added. “Now you can’t take a mike off me.”

She married early and had a son and a daughter. She took part-time jobs, from farm worker to house-cleaner, but continued with her singing. “Singing is what came most natural to me.”

She recalled the joy of raising her children during the day, then “putting on another mask and going out to sing.”

But, her children remained top priority. She’s still strongly connected to her son and grandson in England.

At age 30, she took up skiing, and five years later was an instructor.

Her daughter, who died nine years ago, became a successful and avid ski racer. Lucy watched her racing in Europe when possible and instructed at different resorts. In the summer, she’d return to sing in holiday camps — “mostly fun stuff, ballads.”

In her late 30s, she settled back in Colchester, Essex, where she met second husband Alan and was drawn to his “caring personality . . .and good looks.”

A friend sparked her interest in theatre, and, although Lucy wanted to play Maria, she took the role of Sister Brigitte in The Sound of Music.

“I was hooked,” she said and proceeded to act in other musicals and comedies. She received a North Essex best actress of the year award. The rush of making people laugh, of being someone else, was addictive.

A director once told her she had natural comedic timing. That same director, Val Harvey, was also inspirational in teaching her how to direct.

She directed her first pantomime, that strange and traditional British form of family Christmas entertainment. She learned all aspects of theatre, from making sets to sewing costumes.

Since moving here, she was nominated by Calgary’s Alliance of Community Theatres as best supporting actress and best newcomer for her role as the maid in Vision Theatre’s Blithe Spirit. She’s a Cochrane Victim Services volunteer and serves on the Cowboy Church worship team.

“When I think back to that scruffy little kid in the streets of London and look at what I’ve done, it excites me to think how much more I could have done with a stable upbringing.”

Equally exciting, though, is bringing out the potential in others. She has another plaque stating: “If you can dream it, you can do it,” and that’s Lucy’s motto for sure.

Andy Marshall, a veteran journalist living in Cochrane, profiles neighbours in our community.

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