Volunteer profile - Ben Ramsbottom
We're marking Volunteers' Week 2020 with a series of profiles on a few of our many volunteers. In today's feature, Ben shares a memory of Rosehill from over 50 years ago when he certainly got one up on his friends!
Name Ben Ramsbottom
Age 82
Where do you live? Beckermet
Where did you work? BNFL, Sellafield
How long have you volunteered for Rosehill? Since November 1991.
Main responsibilities Any front-of-house duties, bar work.
Why did you decide to become a volunteer? I was invited to volunteer/join the Friends of Rosehill by Joe Blackadder.
What do you enjoy most about the role? Friendship with other volunteers and meeting other Rosehill patrons and customers.
Share with us a memorable experience since you've volunteered for Rosehill Too many; front-of-house, on stage and back stage. A wild Irish night, three behind the bar wearing large leprechaun hats, the floor swimming in spilt Guinness, or lighting the last part of a performance with hand torches after another power cut.
Possibly my best memory of Rosehill is pre-volunteering days, autumn 1966, being invited by Sir Miki Sekers into his private box (now the projection room) where he suggested my very pregnant wife would be more comfortable during an MJQ (Modern Jazz Quartet) concert and seeing the astonishment on our friends' faces as they trooped out for interval drinks and saw us being served tea by Sir Miki.
What do you do in your free time? At the moment - stay home, stay safe, survive!
(Web editor's note: Ben also happens to be a talented performer himself and has been seen on the Rosehill stage several times, most recently in January 2020 in Rosehill Players' production of Le Grand Return. The main photograph with this feature shows him in 'Allo 'Allo! a few years back.)
Tell us a fun fact about yourself we might be surprised to learn! I was once a sweet angelic little boy (see photo)!
What does Rosehill mean to you? A haven for quality entertainment of all genres.
What would you say to anyone who is interested in becoming a Rosehill volunteer? Come along and try it.
