A MONMOUTH photographer has recalled his time spent with Sir Ken Dodd, who died this week at the age of 90.

Richard Sadler, who was born in Coventry but has lived in the town for the last decade, met and photographed Ken Dodd, and describes how he even visited him at his home. His photograph is currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

“I met him through working as a photographer at Courtaulds Research Laboratory in the 1950s,” Richard said. “The company ran a social club and employees organised events and activities. Members ran a photographic club and naturally our department became ‘key’ members. Interested in theatre photography at our social club events we were also invited to photograph the rehearsals for the annual Pantomime and spring show seasons at Coventry’s Hippodrome theatre. Shirley Bassey and Ken Dodd headlined one of the spring shows. Having attended our club event I decided to give some enlargements of my photos to Ken and others of the cast.

“I presented myself at the stage door prior to an evening performance and ‘Nan’, the wonderful lady that controlled the stage door, told Ken who invited me into the green room. We became friends both recognising instinctively, as perhaps one does in one’s youth, that we ‘loved people’ and an audience in my case for my photographs and for Ken his humour. Many before and during show visits became the norm through that three-month season. We planned photos of him for publicity; ‘Ken the Gourmet’ visiting restaurants where he ate; he even visited me in my new home where our first child, Jane by then nearly five years old, burst into tears on meeting him. However, as he jokingly said at the time, “most of my fans cry but usually with laughter!” Which he was sure Jane would when older.

“I learned much and owe Ken a great deal from our conversations for our respective futures. He made notes on his performances on his timing, content and projection to and from an audience. I was even allowed to be with the ASM in the wings of the stage during his performances. I became aware certainly of the “atmosphere” of projection given and returned. I have continued to be a fan and followed his history. Attended many of his shows yet too shy and protective of our shared youthful moments to knock on the stage door and ask to see him. However I did discover the whereabouts, and indeed have visited, Knotty Ash many times since.”