FOR THE past 40 years, Vivian ‘Viv’ Crofton has dedicated his time to working behind the scenes for Wexford Festival Opera.

He has spent that time quietly working in the background, but at the weekend the Wexford man was named the 2012 Wexford Festival Opera / Zurich Volunteer of the Year Award.

He received the award during a special on-stage presentation preceding the public dress rehearsal for the Zurich sponsored L’Arlesiana in front of an audience of 771 people – most of whom were also Festival volunteers.

Known to all as a humble and quiet man, Mr. Crofton surprised the audience when he asked if he could say a few words about the award, saying:

“I am accepting this award for the 3 reasons. For Nicky Cleary, who taught me everything and who was a gentleman; The Chairman Peter Scallan who told me that accepting the award would be for the good of the festival and that I would enjoy it and because you were nice enough to give it to me.”

For the full story see this week’s Echo.