Partners Meeting

IAN & RICHARD TELL ALL TO BEXHILL ROTARY

Ian Sharpe and Richard Tate (pictured) wowed Bexhill Rotarians and friends last Tuesday 30 th April with some fascinating tales of his life as an actor. 

Ian and Richard are, of course, one of the same with the’ Tate’ part being his  stage name. Although born in Liverpool, he now lives locally, but Ian has vivid memories of some of the devastating air raids in his early years during the Second World War. At the tender age of 7, after much encouragement from his mother, Ian entertained the troops with his singing.

Two years later when holidaying in North Wales he won a talent show and later went on to art school where he came across John Lennon and other Beatles before they became well known. He then went into publishing and, as a hobby, got involved with amateur dramatics which eventually led him to the theatre full time after being encouraged by his wife, Wendy, who he married in 1964 when he was 35. Ian acted as well as stage managed, but that had to be curtailed later as his son had been taken ill. In time he managed to take on other jobs which took all around the country and also to London’s West End which gave him a fund of plenty of anecdotes to relate to the attentive audience.

Ian eventually concentrated on directing where he came across a variety of stars including Petula Clark, Michael Gambon, and Elaine Page. This period showed him through subtle hints and bags of praise how to get the best out of actors who were above themselves.

Sadly in 2000 Ian suffered leukaemia resulting in a change of direction. That didn’t stop him from getting walk on parts in TV and commercials which he still continues to do, including him fronting a TV advert to help raise vital funds for Leukaemia UK.

Bexhill Rotarian Patrick Donaldson gave an enthusiastic vote of thanks after which the audience gave Ian a rousing round of appreciative applause.