The Cambridgeshire arts community mourns the loss of Clive Borrow, a beloved amateur actor and entertainer who dedicated his life to local theatre. Borrow passed away at the age of 85, leaving behind a remarkable legacy spanning decades of performances.
A Lifetime on Stage
Clive Borrow's passion for performance began during his school days and continued until just a few years before his death. Born in Soham, Cambridgeshire, he moved to Cottenham at age six and remained there throughout his life. His first stage appearance occurred at Cottenham County primary school, sparking a lifelong devotion to theatre.
His professional career took a different path, beginning in 1958 at the Pye Group in Cambridge where he worked in radio communications. Later, he served as a human resources manager at Newmarket Microsystems in Suffolk before taking early retirement in 2001.
Theatrical Legacy
Borrow's serious theatrical career commenced in 1967 with Waters of the Moon at Cottenham Village College. He became instrumental in local theatre groups, including the St Ives Music and Drama Society, Festival Players, Pye Amateur Dramatic Society, and St Neots Operatic Society.
His most significant contribution came through the Cottenham Theatre Workshop, which emerged from a 1977 meeting to create a revue for the Queen's silver jubilee. With this group alone, Borrow achieved extraordinary numbers: 76 show appearances, 26 directed productions, 19 performances as a pantomime dame, and 17 written pantomimes.
Personal Life and Legacy
In the early 1970s, Borrow met secretary Vivienne West through amateur dramatics. They married in 1974 and welcomed their daughter Wendy in 1975. Following Vivienne's death in 2020, Borrow had his bungalow altered to accommodate Wendy, her husband Matthew, and their two children.
In his final years, residents regularly spotted Borrow navigating Cottenham's high street on his motorised scooter. He is survived by his daughter Wendy and grandchildren Evan and Leo, leaving behind a community enriched by his decades of theatrical magic and entertainment.
