Telling the story of Bill and of Tom

Aug 30 2002 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THERE will be an added poignancy to actor Tom Owen's first appearance at the Lawrence Batley Theatre next month.

For as Tom will doubtless have already discovered, the LBT is yet another place with which his father, the late Bill Owen had close connections.

Bill, in his familiar Last Of The Summer Wine attire of sorry-looking jacket, woolly hat and wellingtons drew warm applause when he appeared on stage as Compo at the gala opening event at the theatre in 1994.

And it was a connection Bill continued, keeping contact with a theatre he was delighted to see get off the ground.

So for Tom's debut show at the LBT, it's appropriate that he will be sharing with his audience his own very personal story.

Tom wrote his one-man tribute show 14 by 3 to tell the story of two actors - Bill and Tom.

This father and son theatrical story marks their involvement in the world's longest running TV comedy series, Last Of The Summer Wine and a piece of TV history. For when Bill Owen died in 1999, the BBC invited Tom to follow in his father's footsteps and join the show.

And since Tom began to spend time filming in the Holme Valley as his father did for 27 years, he has picked up many of Bill's connections.

One of them is Bill's work for Kirkwood Hospice.

Bill supported many events and charities in the district and Tom has followed that lead.

He has supported a number of hospice events and when 14 by 3 opened in Holmfirth in June, he gave the programme receipts of his two performances to Kirkwood.

He has now agreed that any profit from his appearance at the Lawrence Batley's Cellar Theatre on September 13 (7.45pm) will also go to the hospice.

Tickets from £6 and the box office is on 01484 430528.