At the age of eight, Bob won a choral scholarship to St Michael’s College, Tenbury, where he eventually became Head Chorister. He then enjoyed five happy years at the ILEA boarding school Woolverstone Hall (home to such luminaries as Ian McEwan, Phill Jupitus and Martin Offiah) and along the way became an ESU Schoolboy Public Speaking Champion, before going up to Fitzwilliam, Cambridge.
During his time at University, he was able to indulge his varied passions of choral singing, comedy and athletics – managing to juggle two chapel choirs with the 110m hurdles, as well as writing and performing in the Footlights with the likes of Nick Hytner, Clive Anderson, Jan Ravens and Griff Rhys Jones. After University, he was awarded a postgraduate Diploma in Acting from Webber Douglas.
While at Fitzwilliam, he also found time to form the vocal group Cantabile. With them he gave over 3,000 performances worldwide: cut 17 discs – including Chess in Concert with Josh Groban and Idina Menzel; jammed on countless tapes; hit the silver screen – Morons from Outer Space; and had a big smash in the West End – Blondel (written by Tim Rice and Stephen Oliver). But despite these seemingly violent tendencies he remains more Punt Rock than Punk. Awards include the Wavendon Allmusic Prize and the Eurovision ‘Star Festival’ – Best Cabaret.
Over the years he has also worked with a variety of ensembles including: Pro Cantione Antiqua; Schola Hebraica, New York; the Amsterdam Baroque Choir; Collegium Vocale Gent; the Tallis Scholars; the Gabrieli Consort and The Sixteen.
He left Cantabile in 2014, and now, aside from singing in the Choir, he runs the Recital Series at St Bride’s and is also Librarian. He was in the first UK intake to study for the LAMDA Teacher’s Certificate in Communication (LTCC) which he passed with Distinction, and has run Public Speaking Workshops at St Bride’s.
Having been brought up in Fetter Lane, EC4, and coming from a family of journalists, working at St Bride’s is the nicest way of coming home.
