Outandabout-Magazine-Oct-issue-191

56 | OUT AND ABOUT COSTA BLANCA CLARENCE BIRDSEYE
Frederick William Skilton
18.10.35 - 20.08.21
Known to his friends as Rick, he was born
in Croydon on the 18th October 1935 to
a humble, loving, working class family.
As he grew up, it soon became obvious how
bright and intelligent Rick was and he went on
to win a scholarship. From there he studied
medicine, subsequently becoming a Consultant
Gynaecologist working in London. This is where
he met a lot of celebrities as a patients, such as Julie
Garland, Marilyn Monroe and Shirley Bassey to
name a few. For a time he was a doctor with the
Royal family and even went on a trip to Australia
with them. Later in his career, he changed from
Gynaecology to research and teaching. He was part
of the research team who discovered the Vaccine
for poliomyelitis. He was also in the group of
assistant Doctors who helped Professor Christiaan
Barnard (who did the first heart transplant) when
he came to St George’s Hospital, London. In
1997 in Roslyn, Scotland, Rick was also part of the
research team who worked with Ian Wilmut in the
successful cloning of Dolly the sheep.
Rick’s life changed when he left the UK to
move to Spain with his then partner Graham, who
wanted to take early retirement. So, he left the UK
as Professor Skilton and arrived in Spain as ‘Rick’
at the end of the 1990’s.
Here they both joined the Harlequins in 2004
and went on to do many shows. A man of many
talents, not only playing a role in the chorus but
also at times, taking on the compéring.
His partner Graham, sadly passed away in
January 2007 but never one to stand still, later
that same year through to 2008 he directed many
cabaret shows of his own to raise money for
charities, one of which was for Adopt a Child,
which he organised through the Oasis church in
Javea run by Clive Read.
His life then changed again in October 2008 when
he met Tony who would later become his partner
for life when they married in 2009. They first met
when Rick went to see a performance of ‘Oliver’ by
the Footlights Theatre Group in which Tony was
part of the Chorus line. They were introduced by
a mutual friend, John Bennetts in the bar after the
show and the rest as they say, is history.
Rick was a well-loved
and respected man. Ready
to help where he could,
enjoying others people’s
company and whenever he
met you, he always left you with a smile on your
face. He will be missed by so many people.
I very much agree with the last lines on Rick’s
life. Rick was a well-loved and respected man.
He was a big asset to the Harlequin group.
He enjoyed being with people so “meeting
and greeting” people at the Harlequins shows
was perfect for Rick’s personality. He was also
excellent on stage and he was my dancing
partner. Such enjoyable, happy times. He
made me laugh so much as he was full of fun.
Whenever he met you, he always left you
smiling. He will be so greatly missed by me and
members of the Harlequin group.
The year’s Rick was in the group were such
jovial times to reflect on. He wrote an article for
my magazine called from “Theatre to Theatre”
as from being a Surgeon in a theatre he then
started to tread the boards on the stage theatre,
thus “Theatre to Theatre”. He would often tell
some very funny stories of questions asked him
as a doctor but we won’t go into that but they
were very, very comical. He was a character
himself and once you were introduced to Rick
you would feel you had known him all your life
and he always had something to say to make
you laugh. So pleased I met Rick recently and
had the chance of another laugh.
So, so sad. I feel privileged, delighted and
lucky to have known Rick he will always be in
my thoughts. Such a lovely, cheerful man.
Carol (Levey)