Here is the biography:
Born to a life of music, Sylvia was originally trained as a singer at the prestigious Royal College of Music. However, her marriage to Paul Spencer, an actor with the Anew McMaster touring company, led her to put her career on hold. After the Second World War and her divorce, she worked as an assistant house mistress at Cheltenham Ladies' College and a teacher at Pate's Junior School in Cheltenham to support her son Nicholas' education.
As her son grew older, Sylvia returned to the stage in 1964, joining the all-woman Osiris Repertory Company, where she toured Shakespearean plays to schools and convents. She then worked in repertory at various theatres, including Lincoln Theatre Royal, the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, and the Birmingham Rep, among others.
Throughout her career, Sylvia made numerous television appearances, including roles in popular shows such as "Blott on the Landscape," "When the Boat Comes In," "Crossroads," "Softly, Softly," and "Lovejoy." She also had leading roles in films and stage productions, including "Separate Tables" with Irene Worth and "Countess Alice" with Wendy Hiller.
Sylvia's final stage appearance was at the National Theatre, where she recreated her role of Julia Shillitoe in a stage revival of "Absolute Hell" at the age of 83. Her last appearance on television was in 1996 in the production of "Emma." Unfortunately, a slight stroke ended her career.
In addition to her acting career, Sylvia was fascinated by history and discovered that her great-grandfather was the comic actor John Hughes, a close friend of Edmund Kean and a member of the Drury Lane company in the 1830s. She was also an authority on Edwardian etiquette and was invaluable in period productions.
Sylvia was loved by all who worked with her, and her kindness and warmth earned her a special place in the hearts of her colleagues. She died at the age of 94 in the actors' retirement home, Denville Hall in England.
