A STANDING ovation of tributes has been given to the memory of the late Richard Combes, the popular businessman who was a leading light with Dunstable Rep.
Last week, we reported the sad news that Richard, 67, had died after a long battle with cancer.
He was managing partner at the Luton office of global accountants Ernst & Young and was on the board of several charities.
Business colleagues described him as “matchless” and “irreplaceable.”
I thought you might also like to read these reminiscences about the former Dunstable Grammar School pupil.
Richard, of Westoning, was a former chairman and treasurer of Dunstable Rep, which he had joined almost 50 years ago.
Friend and fellow Dunstable Rep member Phil Baker told my colleague Bev Creagh: “Richard and I go back a long way.
“The first show we did together was a musical, The Rose and The Ring, at the old Queensway Hall.
“He put his heart and soul into his performances and made some memorable appearances, including in Shadowlands and The Madness of King George.
“He was very good in serious parts but he was equally adept in comedies like Come Blow Your Horn where he played my elder brother.
“He was great fun and I can remember the two of us singing Beatles songs backstage.”
In the world of the theatre, as in all other areas of his life, the memory of Richard’s many achievements is sure to be applauded.
HAVE you spotted any giant flying ants yet?
It’s that time of year when pest control firms’ phones start ringing off the hook with calls about the winged wonders.
Now one company, Cleankill Environmental Services, has been in touch with me.
The team helpfully says the problem usually just disappears in a few hours and there’s not much a pest control team can do about it if you contact them – apart from charging you a lot of money.
I was so impressed by the honest admission that I thought I’d tell you what else managing director Paul Bates had to say.
He said: “It’s the normal mating flight of the common black garden ant and it happens two or three times over the summer months, causing some people great distress.
“We advise the callers not to panic and just wait a few hours.
“Unfortunately, some other pest control companies take advantage of people’s aversion to flying insects and suggest carrying out a treatment to eradicate the ants when it’s totally unnecessary and wasteful.”
Apparently, the ants normally take to the air on a still, warm summer evening and are looking for a suitable mate.
So now we know,there’s no need to be ‘antsy’ about them...
BOUQUETS of praise went to Olympics supporters in the Dunstable area, with this post on the Don’t Let Dunstable Die Facebook page.
It said: “It is fab when you see flags flying in and around Dunstable, plus in the villages for Team GB. The flower tub at the foot of Dunstable Downs on the Tring Road has red, white and blue flowers, and flags.”
Another message agreed: “Fab.”
A floral display sounds like a great way to celebrate our flowering sporting talent!