Royal Variety Management

Royal Variety Charity Management

Patron 1952-2022

Her Majesty The Queen

The Royal Variety Charity was honoured to have Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as its Patron for 70 years, between 1952 and 2022.

For over a century, the unwavering support of the Royal Family has been the bedrock of the Royal Variety Charity and our annual fundraiser the Royal Variety Performance.

Entertainers not only lift the mood of the nation, but influence its very heart and what is so often overlooked, is how the majority of those working in the profession are driven solely by passion, with little thought for their future, or long term security. This is something keenly understood by generations of the Royal family and for which we are all eternally grateful.

 

Her Majesty The Late Queen shared patronage of the charity with HM The Queen Mother until her passing in 2002 and historically the Royal Variety Charity enjoyed dual patronage from the King and Queen (King George V with Queen Mary and King George VI with Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

 

For a list of our previous Patrons and details of the Royal Variety's links with Royal Patronage since 1921, please click here.

For up to date news and information on the British Monarchy, please visit the official website at: http://www.royal.gov.uk/

Chairman

Giles Cooper

Welcome to the Royal Variety Charity & Royal Variety Performance official site.

It's a real privilege to lead this very special and historic British institution; our staff and unpaid volunteers work tirelessly to help those in need throughout the entertainment industry, both in our care home in Twickenham and indeed all across the UK - they are all truly inspirational people to work with.

I'd like to thank the Members of our Executive Committee, including their elected Officers and Trustees for giving up their valuable time throughout each year and for working so hard for those in need within the entertainment industry.

The Royal Variety Charity has constantly evolved, but has always existed as the entertainment industry 'looking after its own' and this would never have been possible without the unwavering support of continuing generations of our Royal Family. 

The Royal Variety Performance has in recent years gone from strength to strength, consistently attracting the biggest stars from all over the world. Our social media channels such as Facebook are testament to the Royal Variety Show's massive resurgence in popularity, demonstrating the huge appetite that clearly exists in the UK and around the world for this annual, Great British Institution.

The Royal Variety Performance was first staged in London in 1912 to an audience of just 1,300 but last year was broadcast in 63 countries and viewed by a combined television audience of over 152 million - making it the longest running and most successful show in the world.

Lastly, thank you to you, for your interest and support of the Royal Variety Charity. Please donate or buy a ticket if you are able and please get involved in our many fundraising ventures whenever you can. Thank you!

CLICK FOR BIOGRAPHY OF GILES COOPER

Hon. Life-President

Laurie Mansfield

Laurie Mansfield holds an honorary role (unelected) with the charity but assists Chairman Giles Cooper with the organisation of the annual Royal Variety Performance and sits on the Board of Trustees.

He is best known as a theatrical agent, famously representing entertainers such as Jimmy Tarbuck, Jim Davidson, Freddie Starr, Des O'Connor and Cilla Black.

He started as a record store salesman for CBS in 1969 and then entered the agency business working for International Artistes in the early seventies.

In April 2010 he formed a new company with his son Peter, called Laurie Mansfield Associates, presenting a combination of both theatrical production and talent representation.


THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY

The Management Body of the Royal Variety Charity is made up of unpaid volunteers all of whom work (or have worked) professionally in the entertainment industry.

Elected Management Body (voluntary)

Chairman - Giles Cooper • Vice Chairman - Phil Dale • Treasurer - Ian Freeman

The Executive Committee: Kay Carman, Pat Church, Phil Dale, Daniel Dean, Ian Freeman, Paul Ganjou, Cheryl Garland, Rev. Simon Grigg, Fawn James, Martin Jones, John Logan, Sital Makwana, Vicki Michelle MBE, Spencer Phillips, Babs Powell, Robert Powell, Keith Simmons, Katie Wilkinson

Trustees (elected): Giles Cooper (Chair), Laurie Mansfield, Phil Dale, Ian Freeman

Honorary Members (bestowed)

Hon. Life-President - Laurie Mansfield •  Hon. Vice-Presidents: Roger De Courcey, Robert Earl Jnr, Stuart Littlewood, Joe Pasquale, Nick Thomas MBE, Bradley Walsh

Life Governor (honorary): Lord Michael Grade CBE

Hon. Chaplain: Rev. Simon Grigg

Brinsworth House and Royal Variety Charity Staff (employed)

Finance Director – Martin Dalby, Matron of Brinsworth House – Tatree Preece, Administrator – Kirsty Bristow, Operations Manager – Peter Hinton, Head of PR - David Pogson LVO, Events Officer – Victoria Bond, Grants Officer – Kaushika Amin, Finance Officer – Myra Harte, Brinsworth House Staff: Clinical Lead - Suhasini Raja, Head Chef - Stuart Jones, Catering Manager – Henry Sheerin, Maintenance Manager – Joe Williams, Activities Co-Ordinator - Angelica Lundekesi, Sue Amory, Alina Gurung, Anita Gasu, Anni George, Ariel Madronio, Caesalia B Fernandes, Carolyn Cole, Cecilia Marston, Dorothy Atkins, Dudi Dollani, Ecaterina Duda, Winnie Ellis, Emese Juhas'z, Emilinda Canlas, Estha Idahosa, Flona Brown, Geena Martin, Gemma Bishop, Sruthi John, Golda John, Hawabai Hashim, Marie Helene, Karuna Kandel, Kate Geoffrey, Kathleen Howden, Kelly McCarthy Gale, Stephen Moriarty, Khamar Hussein, Malar Kavya, Mark Lester, Mary Walsh, Michele Dasseville, Millie McLeod, Mo Atia, Mohinder Panesar, Patricia Smith, Pedro Barretto, Ray Warren, Remelda James, Sheila Forde.

FINANCE:-

Treasurer (elected)

Ian-Freeman-Headshot.jpg

As the elected Treasurer it is my duty and obligation to consider where we stand financially and to report the situation to our Executive Committee and the relevant authorities honestly and transparently.

The work of Chairman Giles Cooper really has revolutionised this charity over the past ten years and his efforts have transformed our financial stability, governance and operations. I salute his leadership and am proud of the hard work of all of us who have assisted him in modernising this wonderful 111 year-old charity.

The Royal Variety Charity’s award-winning residential home, Brinsworth House, continues to provide the highest standard of care for many former showbusiness professionals. On behalf of our residents and all our other beneficiaries, as well as all the officers of the Charity, may I offer our grateful thanks for your continued support. Given the challenges continuing to confront the charity sector, we face a constant struggle to raise sufficient funds to maintain the levels of care and guardianship for which we are renowned and we thank you respectfully and profoundly.

May I also thank our finance team of Martin Dalby (Finance Director), and Myra Harte (Finance Assistant), for their exceptional hard work. 

Please help us to maintain our invaluable work by donating whatever you can, no matter how small, through our website. We will, in return, promise to work diligently and conscientiously to guarantee a happy and comforting future for those who have brought us so much joy and laughter for so many years.

Management Body (voluntary):-

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (ELECTED)

(in alphabetical order)

KAY CARMAN

PAT CHURCH

GILES COOPER

PHIL DALE

DANIEL DEAN

IAN FREEMAN

PAUL GANJOU

CHERYL GARLAND

REV SIMON GRIGG

FAWN JAMES

MARTIN JONES

JOHN LOGAN

SITAL MAKWANA

VICKI MICHELLE MBE

SPENCER PHILLIPS

BABS POWELL

ROBERT POWELL

KEITH SIMMONS

KATIE WILKINSON

OFFICERS (ELECTED)

♦  CHAIRMAN:            GILES COOPER

♦  VICE-CHAIRMAN:   PHIL DALE

♦  TREASURER:           IAN FREEMAN

TRUSTEES (ELECTED)

LIFE GOVERNORS (HONORARY)

LORD MICHAEL GRADE CBE

VICE PRESIDENTS (HONORARY)

ROGER DE COURCEY

ROBERT EARL JNR

PETER JAY

STUART LITTLEWOOD

JOE PASQUALE

NICK THOMAS MBE

BRADLEY WALSH

EMPLOYED STAFF:-

BRINSWORTH HOUSE - SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM (EMPLOYED)

FINANCE DIRECTOR: MARTIN DALBY

MATRON: TATREE PREECE

ADMINISTRATOR: KIRSTY BRISTOW

RVC OPERATIONS MANAGER: PETER HINTON

RVC ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF (EMPLOYED)

DAVID POGSON LVO - HEAD OF PR

VICTORIA BOND - EVENTS OFFICER

KAUSHIKA AMIN - GRANTS OFFICER

MYRA HARTE - ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT