Top Show Business appointment for Comedian
Popular 54 year old After Dinner speaker and Comedian Ian Richards has just been elected as The new King Rat of the prestigious show business charity and brotherhood The Grand Order Of Water Rats.
This took place at a star studded event for hundreds of show business guests at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Mayfair on Sunday night, he takes over from worldwide celebrity keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman who has held the office for two successive years with Ian as his Prince (deputy).
The evening was a nonstop night of glitz glamour and cabaret with show stopping performances by Tom Binns as Ivan Brackenbury The Hospital Radio DJ , The Legendary comedians comedian Mick Miller, The performers from Sylvia Young’s Theatre School, top table speeches from Actors Peter Egan and Frazer Hines.
The whole evening rounded off by Rick Wakeman with The Orion Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Choir and guest Soprano Joanne Mc Gahon
The Office of King Rat is one of the most esteemed and coveted of its kind since the history of the order is a timeline of Light Entertainment legend and international stars that lead back to its formation in 1889.
There have only ever been 895 Water Rats initiated since 1889 and there can only ever be 200 members at any one time
All its members are proud that the order has three Royal Companion Rats in HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, HRH the Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
The past Kings are a who’s who of entertainment including Bud Flanagan, Tommy Trinder, Ted Ray, Frankie Vaughan, Danny La Rue, Les Dawson, Roy Hudd and Joe Pasquale.
Celebrity members are diverse in their show business backgrounds and range from Queen Guitarist Brian May and Iron Maiden Drummer Nicko Mc Brain to Bruce Forsyth and Jimmy Tarbuck.
You do not necessarily have to be a big household name to be a Water Rat, indeed many of the members you may not have heard of, but each one is a name within the entertainment profession, known and admired by his peers and considered to be worthy of becoming a Water Rat.
A Highly involved vetting and voting procedure takes place before a new member can be initiated and once you are a member you can wear the exclusive Golden Water Rat Emblem that you will spot on TV programmes worldwide.
Ian who two years ago returned to live in Norwich is a member of Royal Norwich Golf Club and has hosted his Comedy Classic Charity Golf Tournament there for the last three years raising money for the Grand Orders Charity Fund, he has also been keen to support the Parkside Complex needs School and will continue to do so during his reign as King Rat
