A SECULAR celebration of the life of a Crediton man, who was a highly-regarded actor, will be held in Shobrooke in May.

James Walker (born Chalton), was a dedicated actor and had a strong presence in the Devon theatrical scene.

He was born on January 3, 1940 and passed away on December 27, 2016.

Brought up in Leeds, James went to the Central School of Speech and Drama after a degree at Oxford and a brief stint as a junior reporter on the “Harrogate Advertiser”.

After honing his craft in rep. from 1966 to 1971, he spent six years with the Orchard Theatre in Devon.

His 40 years in professional theatre took him throughout the country and abroad.

His career highlights include a season between 1992 and 1994 with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon – including a “world” tour with “The Winter’s Tale” – and playing Einstein in Terry Johnson’s “Insignificance” in Harrogate 1999.

After moving to Crediton from London in 1991 with his wife Sandy, he worked at the Northcott Theatre in Exeter and performed with Theatre Alibi and Travelling Light.

He also put on his own one man show on George Herbert locally.

In Crediton, he took part in several outdoor “Shakespeare in the Square” productions and in fundraising concerts, between professional engagements countrywide.

He ran a local actor’s workshop and was a member of the Crediton Shakespeare Club.

He was a modest man who was moved by poetry and literature, and whose gentle nature and enthusiasm for theatre contributed to his standing in the local community. He had to stop working in 2006 following a stroke.

James also had many small parts on TV and appeared in several films including “Empire of the Sun”, “Twelfth Night” and “1984”.

He became recognised for one of the iconic Yellow Pages adverts in 1990, where he played a cricket umpire seeking a replacement for his battered panama hat.

His wife, friends and acting associates he so keenly enjoyed working with will all sorely miss his joyous appreciation of his craft.

A secular celebration of James’ life will be held in Shobrooke on May 23, beginning at 2.30pm.

Alan Quick