Inventing

BY IAN TOOTLE
In the early to mid 1970's, I was a fledgling ASM at the Haymarket Theatre in Leicester, UK. Linda had become a regular stalwart of the rep company and Simon was but a youngster. Tony directed several plays under the auspices of the then Artistic Director, Robin Midgely and then became, somewhat bizarrely, the Production Manger of the Theatre at which point he almost immediately promoted me to become a DSM and consequent Company Manager for the increasing amout of touring productions. Without Tony's support and mentoring, I have no doubt that my subsequent, reasonably successful career as a Production Manager and Line Producer in UK television would not have happened. My joyous recollection of Tony was that having being asked the question, 'do you know Ian Tootle?', he was reported as saying, 'know him, I invented him!!'. He did and I will be ever grateful to him. The news of his death in the British Equity journal on my doorstep today was a shock to me and my thoughts are with both Linda and Simon at this sad time and I hope to be at Tony's Memorial Service in London in later this month.