DEAR EDITOR: In 1961, Rita Ashby-Kerr was introduced to me by Sydney Best – a member of The Strolling Players at the British Council Headquarters which was at upper Pembroke Street at a building called “The Wilderness” with an open air concreted stage.

Rita said she would like to join the company. We chatted for a while and I was captivated by her beautiful voice. I also noted that her grammar and pronunciation were flawless. I wondered if she would be versatile enough to be convincing when speaking dialect.

My doubts were dismissed in a very short time. Rita completed the Strolling Players' drama course, received her certificate and soon became the top actress in the company with three first to her credit in my plays.

She was the first to play Rose in Doo Doo (Best one act play – Art Festival 1965), Matilda in King Cobo (Best full-length play – PNM National play writing competition 1966), Rachel in We Crucify Him which she performed more than one hundred time. She also acted in Refund by Fritz Karinsky.

Rita had a commanding stage presence, a fantastic memory and a well projected voice with excellent diction. She entered into the skin of her character and lived the part. Her concentration and identification with the role she created was always so convincing that nothing could distract her.

Once Rita was performing in We Crucify Him at St Joseph and a dog came on the stage and followed her around for more than five minutes. Off stage Harry (Anthony Harrypaulsing's dad) and I tried all sorts of tricks to get the dog to leave the stage but failed. It left when Abigail came in. Yet Rita was always in character. What a superb actress!

Television viewers saw Rita in Doo Doo, We Crucify Him , Not a Bed of Roses, Compliments of the Season, Calabash Alley and numerous commercials for TSTT, NP and Nestlé.

Radio listeners heard her in Calabash Alley in 1970 and 71. She acted in three movies – made in Trinidad The Right and the Wrong, The Caribbean Fox and Bim.

House of Love by AM Clarke was directed by Rita and presented with two other plays Playing for Keeps and Papa. Look the Priest Passing at the City Hall for three nights in June 1967 – Admission any seat – one dollar.

On our way home after performing in the country, Rita would keep us lively with her singing and her storytelling when we had our impromptu concerts in the car. What fun we had on those trips.

But nothing lasts forever. After bringing happiness and joy to thousands of people all over Trinidad , Tobago and St Lucia , Rita went to meet the Lord on Thursday, May 12.

She can say to the Saviour with all sincerity, as St Paul said, “ I have fought a good fight, I have completed the course, I have kept the faith. ”

Freddie Kissoon, Strolling Players