George Grainger alias Michael Stayner
submitted by his cousin, Mary BurkholderThe editor of our Heritage newsletter asked me to do a short biography on the life of George Grainger after he left good old S.C.I. in Stayner. There is to be a series just to bring our readers up-to-date on some of those who have left and gone on to follow their dreams.
While teaching English and Drama as a High School teacher, George put to good use his own training in drama from the Paul Endershy School in Vineland. It was this experience that turned him to the acting profession.
He eventually moved to England to the Webber, Douglas School of Singing & Dramatic Art in London. There he took up permanent residence to pursue his career as an actor in theatre , television and film. The Actor’s Equity already had an actor named George Grainger, so he chose Michael Stayner as his name. As years went by and he retired his name has become Michael Grainger.
In the year 1963 approximately, he married the former Diana Gordon who was born in St. Catharines and who also worked at the theatre in Vineland in Theatre Management. She was also a model and a qualified pilot. She had a daughter Michelle from a previous marriage and in short order they went to England too and so they became a family of three.
Mike and Diana owned an antique jewellery business for a few years out of London and did extensive travelling in pursuit of merchandise. Their present home and permanent abode is an old church which they have made into a very beautiful home close to the border between England and Wales. Mike is a great gardener and his flowers are a sight to behold. Mike and Diana have two wonderful granddaughters.
Mike is still George to me and has never lost his zest for life or his wonderful sense of humour. Forgive me, George, if I have rewritten your life history different from your remembering - age is a factor here.
(This story first appeared in the Fall 2003 issue of our newsletter.)
Post Script: We were sad to learn that George Grainger died in London, England on January 30, 2005.
George was the subject of one of our profiles in a recent newsletter. As an actor in England, he used the stage name “Michael Stayner”, commemorating his home town. His cousin, Mary Burkholder, has been our source of news from George over the years. Our condolences go to his wife, Diana and family.