Yvonne Banning

(1944 - 2009). Actress, TV personality, voice coach and lecturer in speech and performance. Born in Bournemouth, Sussex to Ivy Isabel Mayersbeth and Ralph Banning. The family emigrated to Durban, South Africa in 1948. She returned to the UK to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, then returned to continue her studies at at the University of Natal in Durban (earning an LTCL BA (Hons) and University Education Diploma) She later did a master's thesis at the University of the Witwatersrand.

She initially performed in theatre, film, radio, and television in England and South Africa, before joining the Speech and Drama department at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa (198*), then later moved to the University of Cape Town as senior lecturer (1992), focussing on speech and voice training - across a range of theoretical and practical courses, with a particular interest in contemporary South African work and voice. Her later research focus was on community theatre-making and women in theatre.

As a South African stage actress roles include How the Other Half Loves (The Company, 1979), Ten Little Indians (Pieter Toerien, 1980), Murder by Proxy (Intimate Theatre, 1981), The Unexpected Guest (Pieter Toerien, 1982), Virginia together (Upstairs at the Market, 1983). Her radio and TV work included the radio serial Father, dear Father, . Her time as one of the early newscasters for SABC TV, made her a household name in South Africa. Film roles include The Secret Force (1995)