Comedian BILL WAS A MEMBER OF THE CAMBRIDGE FOOTLIGHTS Journalism BILL WAS A FREELANCE JOURNALIST Writer BILL WAS AN EXPERIENCED WRITER AND PERFORMER Playwright BILL WROTE AND PERFORMED IN PLAYS AND PANTOMIMES

Performing

Cambridge Footlights

Bill was a member of the Cambridge Footlights which gave him an opportunity to write and perform his own material. Bill’s membership of this exclusive club was often mentioned in reviews.

Milford Mercury - June 11th 1993

Zany comedy at the Torch

“Just as television comedy is stuck in the summer doldrums, a zany twosome appearing at the Torch Theatre on Sunday evening created some of the the liveliest, crispest off-beat humour seen for a long time. In the best tradition of comic duos. Bill Cashmore and Andy Powrie’s double act was a treat. Like all good comedy, the evening’s entertainment relied as much on good acting as a funny script.

Bill Cashmore excelled as a series of weirdos, the sort that you unwittingly sit next to on a long train journey.”

“Bill loved the caption under the photo on this article”.

The Pie man!

Bill as The Pie man in Fist of Fun

Bill wrote that he played thugs, coppers and comedy.

Bill’s TV credits included memorable appearances in ‘Fist of Fun’ and ‘The Day Today’.

Are Ant and Dec getting this train?

‘No, no I don’t think so’, Bill admitted

Theatre

...and the seven repertory companies

Bill had an unusual claim to fame – he reckoned that he had closed down seven repertory companies. Or at least they closed after he had worked for them. His list:

  • Umbrella Theatre
  • Touchstone Theatre in Education
  • Solent People’s Theatre
  • Spilsby theatre Company
  • Sadlers Well Theatre Company
  • Palace Theatre Westcliff
  • Torch Theatre Milford Haven

The last three buildings still exist but they don’t have rep companies. The truth of course is not that Bill had anything to do with their closure, but that funding for TIE and regional rep was being withdrawn.

Bill never used to waste time when visiting a new theatre. He would explore the town and seek out the most unique local shops. They or their eccentric owners would then usually appear in a sketch or play.

Granby’s in Milford Haven was one such – and you can see from the window display that this clothing shop has been at the cutting edge of haute couture in West Wales for many decades.

Writing

Bill wrote pantos, one-act plays, one man shows, travel articles and hundreds of corporate training programmes.

‘Daughter’

‘Daughter’ deservedly won a new writing award in 2017.

links to Bill’s online travel writing and other articles

Koh Samet Thailand
End of an era
Autograph hound
Voyages in a parallel universe
Cartagena Colombia Fun and fiestas
Who needs a rough guide
Hamburg Germany a cultural city guide
Where to stay in Southwold
Where to stay in Christchurch
De-Greys Ludlow hotel review
Castle House Lodgings Ludlow hotel review
nottingham forest football club, chants, bill cashmore

Giving

Helping to raise money

Bill raised a lot of money running marathons (or half marathons) but he didn’t just ask for money – he incentivised the donations. I was one of many of his friends who received this:

Dear Andy...

London marathon

Hope all well. I am running the London Marathon on 24th April to raise money (target £3,000) for Sightsavers. I would be extremely grateful if you would consider donating by following this link:

https://www.justgiving.com/William-Cashmore3

I have two incentives to encourage you to donate:

INCENTIVE 1
I am going to add 11% to every donation. So this means that of the £3,000 target I will provide 11% i.e. £330. So, in other words, I only actually need donations of £2,670. Simple. No, hold on, that’s not right because 11% of £2,670 is £293.70 and adding those two together only makes £2,963.70. I’m £36.30 short. Damn. So, if I divide…..oh never mind, you get the idea. I’m putting some dosh in.

INCENTIVE 2
Bill Cashmore’s Guess the Time Competition. Two competitions in one and the chance to win John Lewis vouchers. Quite simply, guess my half marathon time and my full marathon time. Either email me or put the two times on my Just Giving page.

A little form guide. 
In Mad March 2015 I ran 5 half marathons in an average time of about 1 hour 43 minutes but, of course, this time, I still have to run the same again. My only other marathon was Brighton in 2013 when I ran in a time of 3 hours 40 minutes 58 seconds. Other pointers:

REASONS FOR SLOWER:
Injury 1 – damaged ankle ligaments caused by clumsy woman with heavy suitcase on train to Swindon

Injury 2 – broken little toe on Victorian oak chest at home

Injury 3 – sprained ankle walking on pavement to Osteopaths to sort out injury 1I am 3 years older

REASON FOR QUICKER:
New shoes

Anyway, you decide and the closest to my half marathon time gets £25 of John Lewis vouchers and the closest to my full marathon time gets £50 of John Lewis vouchers. Good luck but remember to sponsor me.

Bill

Bill followed this up with:

London marathon

London Marathon 24th April 2016

Many, many thanks for your sponsorship in aid of Sightsavers for my running of the London Marathon on 24th April. I have now hit my initial target of £3,000 thanks to much generosity. I continue to try to raise money and have a new extended target of £ 3,500.

Please find attached a picture of me at last weekend’s Retford Half Marathon. Retford is a pleasing market town in north Nottinghamshire. We were started by young athlete Ryan Bailey and there were some jedis hanging about – not quite sure why. Training continues and I am off to Hastings this weekend to run the half marathon along the seafront.

And a reminder of the John Lewis voucher competition – guess my time at the halfway point of the marathon and my final time. £25 of JL vouchers to the closest halfway time and £50 of JL vouchers to the closest to my finishing time. Many of you have entered, some of you have half entered by only putting a finish time and some of you are still to enter. Get in there would be my advice – you stand a good chance of getting some Johnny L vouchers towards your new set of sheets, fancy china or swanky modes.

Thanks again.

Yours Bill

bill cashmore, running

Still giving

I received a message via Linkedin for permission to perform ‘Bride or Groom’ a one act play written by Bill and me. The Buccaneer Theatre Group at Lossiemouth have performed it previously and have won awards with our play ‘Trip of Lifetime’. The production will be performed in the Spring of 2019. The company will be making a donation to The Woodland Trust in memory of Bill.

Sasha is in discussions with the Lyric Hammersmith about the bursary for young people and we will bring news of this when the bursary is set up.

Thoughts about Bill

...memories and news about Bill
  • 12th August 2019 InUncategorised

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/2008/06/autograph-hound/

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hotels/ukhotels/7910031/De-Greys-Ludlow-hotel-review.html

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hotels/ukhotels/7910832/Castle-House-Lodgings-Ludlow-hotel-review.html

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/sunandsea/5036627/Koh-Samet-Thailand-Just-another-wonderful-day-in-Paradee.html

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/2008/04/end-of-an-era/

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/australiaandpacific/newzealand/740330/Where-to-stay-in-Christchurch.html

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/australiaandpacific/newzealand/740556/Voyages-in-a-parallel-universe.html

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/southamerica/colombia/6304853/Cartagena-Colombia-Fun-and-fiestas-behind-the-fortress-walls.html

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/germany/hamburg/articles/Hamburg-Germany-a-cultural-city-guide/

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/vietnam/736384/Who-needs-a-rough-guide.html

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/vietnam/736384/Who-needs-a-rough-guide.html

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/vietnam/736384/Who-needs-a-rough-guide.html

  • 12th August 2019 InUncategorised

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/2008/06/autograph-hound/

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hotels/ukhotels/7910031/De-Greys-Ludlow-hotel-review.html

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hotels/ukhotels/7910832/Castle-House-Lodgings-Ludlow-hotel-review.html

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/sunandsea/5036627/Koh-Samet-Thailand-Just-another-wonderful-day-in-Paradee.html