Patrons
2011 Nicholas Owen
Our Arts Alive Festival Patron this year is Nicholas Owen - journalist, BBC TV News Presenter and gifted speaker in his own right. Nicholas began his career here in Surrey, on the Surrey Mirror before moving to Fleet Street, onwards to ITN and then to the BBC. Between 1994 and 2000 he was ITN's Royal Correspondent, covering the death and funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. He is an ambassador for the Prince's Trust and, the committee are delighted to have such a well-known personality as the Patron of our festival.
2010 Anita Harris
Anita is an English actor, singer and entertainer. She was classically trained as a singer and then moved into the world of pop. She has performed leading roles in a wide range of hit plays. These include My Cousin Rachel, Stepping Out, Bell Book, Candle and Ruth Rendell’s dark drama House of Stairs. Films and plays include the classic farces Carry on Doctor and Follow That Camel. Anita is currently recording two new albums. She is also filming the title role in the pilot of Verity Lake, a Victorian detective series.
2009 John Gordon Sinclair
The festival patron for 2009 was the Scottish actor and local resident John Gordon Sinclair. John rose to fame playing Gregory in the much loved film Gregory’s Girl. Since then he has worked extensively in films, television, radio and theatre, where he won an Olivier best actor award for his role in She Loves Me. More recently he starred in the Alan Ayckbourn play Absurd Person Singular in London. John took part in a live interview at the Arts Alive 2009 Closing Party at Leatherhead Theatre.
2008 John Bird
The festival patron for 2008 was the English satirist, actor, comedian and local resident John Bird. John needs little introduction as he has been one-third of the television satire team Bremner, Bird and Fortune for the best part of the last decade. Other television appearances include Not So Much a Programme More a Way of Life, Yes Prime Minister and One Foot in the Grave. As a Mole Valley resident John has seen the Arts Alive Festival grow and develop into the success it is now.
2007 Louis de Bernières
Louis de Bernières is best known as the author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. As the 2007 patron, Louis entertained Arts Alive audiences with a talk about his acclaimed novel, Birds Without Wings; and performed a programme of music and poetry.