Rick Fisher, ALD Chairman and joint founder with Tony Gottelier of Light Relief, explains: "We desperately wanted Richard to have a role, but as a non-UK resident that would have proved difficult in view of the requirements of the regulations governing charities. Consequently, we’re delighted that he has agreed to accept the position, as we know that his involvement and wise counsel will prove invaluable."
Although born in England and having worked here for many years, Pilbrow departed these shores for Connecticut and the bright lights of Broadway some time ago. As he says: "I told Tony that I was honoured to be asked - provided they don’t mind me being an absentee landlord! Light Relief is a great idea of which they should be proud."
The board of trustees itself reads like a roll of the most respected figures in the profession in the UK and the industry at large: lighting designers David Hersey, Andrew Bridge, Rick Fisher and Patrick Woodroffe, together with Matthew Griffiths, managing director of PLASA, John Simpson, chairman and CEO of lighting rental specialist White Light, Lesley Harmer, a leading public relations consultant, and of course Tony Gottelier, who first conceived the idea of Light Relief and promoted it through his monthly No Comment column in Lighting&Sound International magazine.
"We spent the summer putting this fantastic group of people together and it is a sign of the respect in which Light Relief is held that we have succeeded so well," says Gottelier. "I look forward very much to working with them to achieve our aims of supporting freelancers when the personal going gets rough, and raising the money to make that possible."
Anybody wishing to make a donation to Light Relief should visit either the PLASA stand K19 or the ALD stand, K6.
Following the meeting of Trustees yesterday, it was announced that the very first presentation of funds from Light Relief will be made later today at the PLASA Show - and PLASA Media will bring you all the details this afternoon. Watch this space.
