Richard De Vere

Richard De Vere (18 June 1967 – 10 March 2014) was a British showman who was best known for 21 consecutive seasons of performances at Pleasure Beach Resort (better known as Blackpool Pleasure Beach).

Biography De Vere was born on 18 June 1967 in Bolton, and was the grandson of Arthur Holt. De Vere was an illusionist, magician, and showman. He took up magic when at school in Bolton. He told the Blackpool Gazette in 2006, “With a lot of practice it became a skill – making it interesting enough for people to want to watch was as much the skill as performing the trick or illusion.” His showbusiness mentor, the comedian Bernie Winters, bequeathed to him his St. Bernard, Schnorbitz.

De Vere died at the age of 46 whilst on holiday in Thailand on 10 March 2014.

Career

Pantomimes De Vere played his first pantomime villain in Liverpool at the Empire Theatre in 1989 with American television personality Mr. T.

Beyond Belief (2008–2013) De Vere starred in his own show, Beyond Belief, from 2008 until 2013 in the Horseshoe Bar at Pleasure Beach Resort. The show was written and produced by De Vere himself, featuring vocalist Marc Lawlor, dancers, Schnorbitz, and iCloud the cat.

Honours In 1997, a statue of De Vere was unveiled on a plinth outside the main entrance of Pleasure Beach Resort. The statue was made of bronze and was a life-size rendition of the performer, along with Schnorbitz. The statue is no longer located in its original position and its whereabouts are currently unknown.