The VOICE of Richard Thomas, Class of 1953
In this episode of 'What I Really Learnt at School', Tamlyn Worrall sits down with alum Richard Thomas. Known for directing the first Dalek stories of Doctor Who, Richard reminisces about his time at King Alfred School. He shares vivid memories of learning calligraphy, his experiences with teachers like Renée Soskin and Miss Marsh, and how attending the school helped him flourish after struggling in earlier education.
Richard also reflects on his acting career, including his role in the film 'Brief Encounter,' his work with the BBC, and his adaptation of Strindberg's play into a six-part series. This heartfelt conversation takes place in Richard's home, offering a personal glimpse into his journey from student to successful director and the enduring influence of his school days.
Creators and Guests
Composer
Amy Cash
Amy Cash is an actress, VoiceOver artist and an Old Alfredian from the Class of 2020, having joined The King Alfred School (KAS) for Sixth Form. Since KAS, she has gone on to train at Mountview Drama School and is pursuing a career in acting. She kindly offered to lend us her voice and record the introductions for Alfredian Voices - with a little help from Dan in music. Make sure to watch out for an Amy shaped space on a stage or screen near you soon!
Producer
Heather Roberts
Alumni and Development Officer: Heather has been the Alumni and Development Officer at The King Alfred School since 2020. Having become disillusioned with her career in the fashion industry Heather moved to this role within Development and Alumni Relations, pulling on her transferable skills. Heather credits her ease at engaging with new people and different audiences with having lived overseas for seven years in Moscow, Russia and Bogota, Colombia. As a self-confessed nosey person who likes a good natter, the Alfredian Voices podcast has been the dream project for Heather to work on.
Guest
Richard Thomas
Richard Martin Thomas is a British retired television director and actor. After starting his career as an actor, he worked regularly as a director throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, which included directing several early serials of Doctor Who starring William Hartnell, and series such as Compact, Crown Court and All Creatures Great and Small. He is married to actress Suzanne Neve.
Producer
Tamlyn Worrall
Development & Alumni Relations Director: As a consummate professional in the Alumni Relations and Development space, Tamlyn brings years of experience to cultivating relationships with our Old Alfredians. With a footprint in South Africa, Australia, and Japan, Tamlyn proudly calls London home, and it’s here that she’s developed her career in the education sector. At the heart of what she does, Tamlyn loves connecting with and learning about our OAs. She approaches every conversation with a sincere curiosity and warmth, finding herself fascinated by the details of every story. This podcast series was a germ of an idea in 2020 and thanks to a fabulous podcast editor we have finally been able to bring these Old Alfredian stories to a wider audience.
