PETER MOYES
6 Edward Avenue
Brightlingsea
Colchester
Essex
CO7 OLZ
petermoyes@[Link]
Phone: 01206 306512
12
th
August 2012
Mr Daryyl Crawley
Chairman
Seaview Players
Sent c/o Kay Crawley
1 Hastings Place
Brightlingsea
Essex
CO7 0PB
Dear Mr Crawley
I was pleased to hear of and read about the success of Beauty & the Beast and only
sorry I was unable to attend. As Hectors granddad I was also sorry and deeply
disappointed and hurt, as Hector was, to read in the programme the allegation that he
left you in the lurch a week before the show. I was directly involved in his decision to
withdraw and know this to be completely false.
The fact is that, at his familys insistence, Hector sent an email to the Director on the
17
th
June making it absolutely clear that I cannot continue to help with the production
of Beauty and the Beast and explained the reasons. And how any one can calculate
there was only one week from 17th June to 4
th
August is wholly beyond me. I enclose
a copy of his letter from which you will gather how sad and sorry he was.
We were so worried about his health that on the 24
th
June I booked flights to take Hector
for a complete change with me (to New York) away from texts (but not alas Facebook!)
and I deliberately picked the show week so that he could not be prevailed on to change
his mind.
We insisted Hector send the email to make quite sure the Director finally got the
message but I am not confident he did as he seemed to remain in contact with Hector
and I believe was actually ringing him while we were at Heathrow. As early as 23rd
December 2011 Hector wrote to the Director saying he had doubts about continuing and
repeatedly thereafter told the him that he needed to withdraw. The Director apparently
did nothing other than cajole, flatter, placate, temporize and make empty promises to
keep Hector on board. If the Director misled you into believing Hector gave only a
weeks notice then Im afraid he was economical with the actualit.
With the benefit of hindsight we should, perhaps, have intervened to ensure you
personally were fully aware of the position, as we were very worried indeed about the
Hectors health and at the way he was being pressurized and strung along. But
intervention is the last thing teenagers want or will tolerate, particularly from parents
and certainly grandparents, as you probably remember from your teenage years!
I am sure you will appreciate that as a family we are naturally very angry indeed at the
statement made in the programme because it is patently untrue, as you must surely
admit; it tarnishes Hector's reputation and it cast doubts on his integrity and reflects on
us as well. Although Hector was not named, all the sixty cast and crew and therefore
most of Brightlingsea knew perfectly well to whom it was referring. It would be absurdly
disingenuous to pretend otherwise.
What is done cannot be undone and recriminations would be divisive but we believe you
should publish a simple, straightforward and dignified apology, in the next issue of
Brightlingsea & Wivenhoe Chronicle (and also Facebook), to redact the statement and
minimize and limit the slur on Hectors good name and reputation. We hope will agree so
we can put the matter behind us and that you will also feel it appropriate to make a
personal apology to Hector.
Although Hector was unable to complete his assignment as Musical Director dont you
think on reflection that it would have been much nicer and more generous had some
acknowledgement been made of Hectors contribution? At least a little bit of the success
was surely due to Hectors efforts? At one point he was getting ten texts a day about the
show. In addition to helping with the music he used his contacts to procure costumes
and arranged rehearsal facilities.
Yours sincerely
Peter Moyes
Hector Moyes Freelance Musician
Hector Moyes
30 Astley Road
Clacton on Sea
Essex
CO153EH
Josh Betteridge
Director of Beauty and The Beast
The Seaview Players
Sunday 17
th
June 2012
Dear Josh,
I have seen my doctor recently who has unfortunately had to refer me for further
consultations and said I must reduce my work commitments. My family agrees and
insists I must do so and put my health and wellbeing first. I therefore really have no
alternative but to tell you that I cannot continue to help with the production of Beauty
and the Beast. There is no way I can continue against the advice of my doctor and the
wishes of my family. I had a bad health scare back in march and almost had to pull
out of everything I was doing then. Luckily I was able to continue however my health
has taken a turn for the worse.
To be honest with you I feel that I have been unable to put the time and effort in
necessary to ensure the production musically reaches the standard it should. As you
know I have tried without success to withdraw before but this time I simply have no
alternative. I will return the scores to you asap.
I really am sorry to let the cast and yourself down and it troubles me greatly but, as
you will appreciate, I have to put my health first.
Although I will not be part of it I am sure the show will be a big success and look
forward to seeing it as a member of the audience.
Best wishes
Yours sincerely
Hector Moyes
