‘Panda’ a passionate thespian

Published date24 September 2021
Publication titleOamaru Mail
Oamaru Repertory Society life member and World War 2 veteran June Blakey (nee Common), who was affectionately known as Panda, died peacefully at her Weaver St home on August 27.

Ever the actress, the 96-year-old hid her quick decline in health from visitors well, passing away in the second week of lockdown with two of her four children, Jo and Bill, and Bill’s wife, Margie, at her side.

June did not want a formal funeral service — instead, she wanted people to get together in the Oamaru Repertory Theatre’s green room and raise a glass.

When June retired from the Oamaru Repertory Theatre in 2016, after nearly 50 years’ active involvement, the auditorium was named the June Blakey Auditorium in her honour. Two years before, she had received a Waitaki Citizens Award for her services to theatre in the district.

The British-born thespian had her first stage appearance at about 13 years old — playing the role of the Queen in a school operetta.

But her life-long love for the stage was not developed until about five years later.

Like many other eager young people during wartime, June signed up for service, joining the Women’s Royal Navy in 1943 at age 18.

She chose the navy over the army because it had a better uniform, her daughter, Jo, said.

She was also inspired by her uncle, who served in World War 1.

‘‘She had a lot of time for him,’’ Jo said.

June was stationed in Orkney, Scotland, where she did clerical work and had what some would describe as a ‘‘good war’’ — the Germans had stopped bombing the area and the base was close to a town, her son, Bill, said.

She took with her the nickname ‘‘Panda’’, given to her by her commanding officer, who described her as a ‘‘baby panda’’, Bill said.

‘‘She looked permanently tired,’’ he said.

In Orkney, she joined a local performing arts group, entertaining the troops and rubbing shoulders with many actors who went on to have impressive careers in the entertainment industry.

As the war moved further into Europe, the Orkney base was shut down and June was re-deployed to a former United States Army base in East Anglia, England.

Rather than pursuing theatre professionally as her peers did, June chose marriage — a decision she did not regret.

She met her husband-to-be, Philip Blakey, in 1945, and they married a year later.

‘‘It was a whirlwind romance,’’ Jo said.

He was an instructor for the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, and cut in as she was dancing with one of his pupils, seducing her with the line: ‘‘they’re only learners, I am...

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