Page 14 - OO_2018

Bill as Professor Callahan in
Legally Blonde
A soap star supreme
Actor and photographer Bill Ward (G 84) talks to John Oliver (G 73) about his varied career since leaving Oundle that has included starring roles in Coronation Street and Emmerdale
From Shakespeare to soaps, in the School orchestra (clarinet), as (my favourite plays I appeared in
Bill Ward has appeared in over
70 film, television and theatre productions, with his roles as Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street and James Barton in Emmerdale making him one of the more high-profile OOs around.
I spoke to Bill whilst he was touring the UK in the musical version of Legally Blonde, playing the role of Professor Callahan and starring alongside Rita Simons of Eastenders fame.
In the 2017 Old Oundelian Charles Hoult (Sc 85) referred to Bill as being “the golden boy” whilst at Oundle, so this was the first thing to ask him about. “Hmm...well, I’m not sure about the ‘golden boy’ tag, but I did have a brilliant time at Oundle,” he replied. “I’ve always loved doing things and Oundle was definitely the place (and no doubt still is) where you received the opportunity and support to do them.
“I played a lot of sport and was in the firsts for both rugby and cricket. Along with Jay Razak (Sn 85), we also petitioned the entire School and got soccer recognised as a major sport. I played a lot of music and was
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THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2017 –2018
well as a couple of bands. I acted both in School and House plays (I won the Hugh Wontner Drama Prize). Elsewhere, I edited the official School (The Laxtonian) and unofficial (Frame) School magazines. And yes, I was a School prefect and pretty good academically, though I did ditch double Maths.
“However, much of this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of bursaries provided to both myself and my brother, Ed Ward (G 87), from an anonymous benefactor, for which we are both eternally grateful. Our Dad ran one of the largest chain of butchers in the North-East and lost his job through no fault of his own – long story – whilst we were at the School. Without the bursary, we would have had to leave Oundle after O levels."
Unsurprisingly, there were many masters at Oundle who helped shape Bill’s future. “Alan Midgley, who taught me History, was a legend and the reason I ended up reading History as a degree,” he recalled. “John Harrison was in charge of the Stahl Theatre and enormously supportive in terms of acting/drama
were Andorra by Max Frisch, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams and The Birds by Aristophanes). Dan Harvey taught me clarinet and encouraged me to play jazz, as well as classical. Peter Hanlon set up a Dixie Band and asked me to be in it, and I still play in a version of the band to this day with Mike Bird (G 84) and Jerry Epton (N 84). Tony Lewin (rugby), Michael Goatley (cricket) and my Housemaster, Johnny Briggs, were also key influences, always encouraging you to get the best out of yourself.”
However, it may have been Head of Music Peter Allwood who had the biggest influence on his future, as he gave Bill the idea of an acting career. “He arranged for me to tour as a musician with the National Youth Music Theatre, both around the country and at the Edinburgh Festival, which gave me a strong taste of what the business might be like as a professional,” Bill explained.
But, first things first. Before professional acting, there was Bristol University and eight years in advertising. “I did 12 plays in three
Picture by Robert Workman