TRIED, TESTED AND PASSED

By John Hannam - Friday, March 28, 2008

Amateur theatre player and producer, charity campaigner and successful photographer, Kevin Mitchell leads a busy life and refuses to let the ill health which has dogged him cramp his style.

WIGHT LIVING
NEWPORT'S Kevin Mitchell has major health problems. But instead of feeling sorry for himself, he is excitedly preparing to direct the Apollo Players' production of Fiddler On The Roof, his first major production on the Island.
Talking to Kevin is inspirational and his positive attitude to life and health has to be admired.
“I don’t think people really know what strength they have until they are tested. I have always tried to make the most of life and get involved with things. Now I think it makes you appreciate it a little more,” said Kevin.
His first major problem came after a skiing accident, which left him with weak legs and poor circulation. This was later diagnosed as deep-vein thrombosis.
In 1999, while living in Scunthorpe, he found he had prostate cancer, which necessitated hormone treatment and radiotherapy. An administration error meant he had not been told at first.
While in Manchester on business, he became ill and was taken back to Scunthorpe to go to the hospital there. To add to his problems, he was diagnosed with multiple pulmonary embolisms — blood clots on both lungs — which affected his breathing.
Despite this, he had to travel to Sheffield every day for radiotherapy treatment for his cancer. Such was his popularity within the Scunthorpe community, a rota of 36 people drove him to and from Sheffield, a near two-hour journey, every day for seven weeks.
“This really touched me and it was started by one person just ringing around. There were people from work, my local amateur theatre group and neighbours. They didn’t even ask for petrol money.”
After enduring the radiotherapy treatment, he was off work for a further year with his breathing problems caused by the blood clots.
Kevin’s partner of 26 years, John English, had moved to the Island in 1999 to take up work as a librarian. The plan had been for Kevin to follow as soon as possible. This had to be put on hold when Kevin went into hospital with more leg circulation problems and then for a hernia operation.
Then it was discovered the cancer had spread to his chest, which meant another spell of radiotherapy. Kevin is never one to give up easily but he did take early retirement in 2005.
For many years he had worked in promoting and presenting environmental issues to the public and many of his innovative ideas were used and some are still on a government website.
His love of theatre also enabled him to incorporate an alien character called Fluggy into his presentations. This proved very popular during his visits to schools.
When he finally moved to the Island in May, 2006, to join John, it was a dream come true. He quickly settled in and became very popular within local amateur circles and photography groups.
On October 28, 2006, Kevin and John undertook a civil partnership at the Bargeman’s Rest, Newport, which corresponded with their 25 years together. Many friends travelled from Lincolnshire to join their many Island friends at the ceremony.
Kevin is a renowned charity worker and over several years his Laughter Through Tears theatre company has raised £45,000 for the Lindsey Lodge Hospice and other charities in Scunthorpe. One theatre production of ’Allo ’Allo! raised £10,000.
Since living on the Island he has raised £2,000 for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, Newport, from events such as Shirley Valentine at the Apollo and a themed last meal on the Titanic evening at the Sandpipers, Freshwater Bay.
Through his charity exploits, Kevin has met the Queen and Tony Blair and was able to chat to them both. The Queen readily admitted ’Allo ’Allo! had been one of her favourite television shows. Tony Blair donated an object for a charity auction organised by Kevin.
He is a keen member of the Apollo Players and was a hit in their production of Nobody’s Perfect, and his appearance in a dress proved highly amusing for audiences.
He is also planning charity productions of Talking Heads, with Maggie Cardew from the Island and Michelle Hulme, from Scunthorpe, who played Shirley Valentine at the Apollo. These will be performed in Newport and Scunthorpe and will raise money for charity.
Kevin, who took up photography following his retirement, won the Island’s 2006 IW Digital Imaging Group photographer of the year award for his picture of a red kite at Appuldurcombe. Last year he came second.
Since my initial interview at Kevin’s Newport home, the news has not been good. His cancer has spread to other areas and chemotherapy sessions are very likely.
Kevin Mitchell is a remarkable person: “I still feel quite young in myself, although my physical limitations mean I can’t do as much as I did before.
“There is always someone worse off than you and I just want to forge ahead as best I can,” he says.
• His production of Fiddler On The Roof can be seen at the Apollo Theatre, Newport, from Wednesday, July 2, until Saturday, July 12.

TRIED, TESTED AND PASSED

Weather

Subscribe