- A Tribute to Keith Macklin
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Sadly our President, the well known broadcaster Keith Macklin passed away in August 2009.
In his own words, taken from a speech which Keith gave during our celebrations for our 200th production, Keith was born in Newton-le-Willows but came to Rainhill when his father took a job at the now defunct Prescot B.I.C.C.
Half educated at the former Prescot Grammar School, Keith did his national service with the RAF without ever flying a plane, and started a journalistic career with the Liverpool Evening Express.
His acting career with Rainhill Garrick Society spanned six or eight performances in the 1950's with roles ranging from a small non-speaking part in Lady, Precious Stream as a hand-wringing, bowing and scraping Chinese soldier, to the "supposed" romantic lead as a round-the-world yachtsman in The Blue Goose. Keith told us this was the most monumental piece of miscasting as any in the Garrick's history!
His clumsy attempts to kiss and embrace the attractive leading lady, Paula Yates, during early rehearsals were so embarrassingly inept that the producer banished them to an adjoining infants school room to practise passionate clinches. They proved to be so enjoyable that he pretended ineptitude right up to the last week of rehearsals, when the producer, who happened to be Paula's husband Peter, became suspicious and stopped the extra-curricular practices.
At the time of the Garrick's 200th production, Keith had completed half a century in TV and radio, largely in the intellectually undemanding world of sports reporting. In an attempt to revive spent brain cells, he took a postgraduate degree at Lancaster University on John Ruskin, and was constantly asked which team Ruskin played for, and in what position.
Keith said that he thoroughly enjoyed the role of President, since it involved no work or responsibility, and free seats at performances.
We, as a Society, were honoured to have him as our President and appreciate the time and support he gave us over the years.
