Soldier drama star aiding army charity
11:00am Friday 15th March 2013 in Latest News By Emma Dunn
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Ben Nealon with Royal Yeomanry troopers Dean Tippetts and Tristan Whitcombe at the Wyvern Theatre
A FORMER star of television drama Soldier Soldier met members of the Royal Yeomanry Squadron at the Wyvern Theatre this week.
Ben Nealon, who played Captain Jeremy Forsyth in the long running ITV drama, was at the theatre ahead of his performance in Go Back For Murder there in April.
The Agatha Christie Company will bring the play to the Wyvern’s stage from April 8 to April 13.
Ben, who first performed at the theatre 23 years ago, said: “We’re all really looking forward to performing here. Go Back to Murder is a typical Agatha Christie play set in 1968 about a young girl who comes from Canada to prove her mother didn’t kill her father.”
Ben will be inviting audiences in Swindon to donate to Help for Heroes after each performance.
The cast includes Liza Goddard; screen star and cover model Sophie Ward; Robert Duncan, who played Gus Hedges in Channel 4’s Drop The Dead Donkey; Gary Mavers of ITV’s Peak Practices; and Lysette Anthony.
Ben met Royal Yeomanry troopers Dean Tippetts and Tristan Whitcombe on Wednesday.
Ben said: “The most important thing for anybody in a television series like Soldier, Soldier is to respect the guys who are doing it for real.”
Royal Yeomanry spokesman Captain Matt Fincham said: “Soldier Soldier was on TV when I was growing up as an army cadet and my brother and I used to tune in every week to see what the King’s Fusiliers were up to.
“It’s fair to say it inspired me to join the army as a regular, which in turn led me to the TA when I left.
“Swindon’s ‘A Squadron’ is one of five Royal Yeomanry Squadrons, which, equipped with RWMIK Landrovers, fulfil a ‘Light Cavalry’ role, providing reconnaissance to tell the rest of the army what the enemy are doing.”
Theatre director, Derek Aldridge, said: “I am delighted the Wyvern will be supporting Help For Heroes. Wiltshire is a county with a very close relationship with our forces.”
For tickets, visit the website wyverntheatre.org.uk or call the ticket office on 01793 524481.
