ELIZABETH Balshaw has spent more time in the Tower of London than almost any of history's notorious criminals . . .

And the actress is to make yet another appearance in the Tower when Gilbert and Sullivan's The Yeoman of the Guard comes to Bolton's Albert Halls courtesy of the New Rosemere Amateur Operatic Society.

Elizabeth, who has been a society member for almost 36 years, has performed the role of Dame Carruthers, housekeeper to the Tower of London, an astonishing six times. These include four appearances for Rosemere, one for The Three Towns AOS at Lowton, and one at a summer school in Ripon held by the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA).

It was the first Gilbert and Sullivan character Elizabeth ever played, and by her own admission, it is the one she loves most.

In fact Elizabeth was so keen when first asked to play the part in 1968 by Percy James, joint founder member of Rosemere, that she asked her parents if next holiday they took, they would incorporate a few days in London so that the Tower of London could be visited for "research purposes".

Elizabeth is among the Rosemere cast members presenting The Yeoman of the Guard now in rehearsal for the company's 75th anniversary show.

Its legion of guards are pictured in rehearsal during a recent drill in the Deane Church hall.

Jean Horrocks is producing the show and soprano Lisa Murphy plays the lead role of Elsie Maynard. Stuart Gregory appears as Colonel Fairfax and Derek Jackson as Sergeant Meryll -- both giving repeat performances of roles they played in 1993. Tim Henshaw appears as the Jester, and a late replacement in the role of Phoebe is Fran Davies. Eric Cheetham is Wilfred Shadbolt, the gruesome Tower jailer.

Philip Lindley, the man behind last year's award winning set, has designed a recreation of the Tower of London.

The show runs from March 5 to 9 at the Albert Halls, Bolton. Tickets, £8 and concessions £7, are from the ticket secretary on 300666, the Albert Halls Booking Office on 334400, or Booths Music on Churchgate.