Yes I have been a performer and have even been in the public eye several times – often unnoticed by the general public and never mentioned in the credits, and that is OK as I like being in the background. I am on the Internet Movie Database though for participating in the Olympic and Paralympic Opening Ceremonies – check out Tim Milne on IMDB for more information, or read further below.
I started performing as most do, in the school play, in February 1973 – I was six months away from being twelve. Rokeby is still an all boys school and it was thought of as odd for us to do Cinderella – maybe Rokeby was a progressive school even then.
Rokeby School Play
Since then I have been around and unseen. Newspaper stories about things I have participated in – Red Nose Day, charity work and the like as well as news items set in pubs, and unpaid extra work because I have been around (and told not to look at the camera – I’m such an amateur sometimes).
In December 1980, I ‘auditioned’ for 21 Artist Rifles. Unfortunately I was in a reserved occupation and could not take up their kind offer to join thus breaking a long family tradition.spanning back from my father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. My great-great-grandfather after he left military service was a famous golf starter and character at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. I would like to think that my love of performing came from him.
A long tradition for military service is one of the reasons why I offer services to actors, artistes and servicemen.
In 2012 we had the Olympics and Paralympics here in London and I was lucky again to be able to perform. This time in front of Her Majesty The Queen – twice! For the most part going unseen and unnoticed – just as I like it.
Altogether we played to audiences of over 260,000:
- About 200 – Olympic Rehearsal 1
- About 60,000 – Olympic Rehearsal 2
- About 60,000 – Olympic Rehearsal 3
- About 80,000 – Olympic Opening Ceremony
- About 60,000 – Paralympic Opening Ceremony
Only a few were asked to perform in both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Opening Ceremonies – I am so lucky to have been one of them.
London Olympics 2012
London Paralympics 2012
You might know the two actors I am sharing stage with above.
As you can see I do perform and love the experience.
