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Richard De Vere (18 June 1967 – 10 March 2014) was a British showman who performed for 21 consecutive seasons at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Biography

De Vere was from Bolton, the grandson of Arthur Holt, the Liberal Member of Parliament for Bolton West and President of the Liberal Party. 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.

Career

Mystique (1995–2008)

Master illusionist De Vere took the centre stage headliner for much of the proceedings and featured many illusions and tricks. Various glamorous attendants popped in and out of claustrophobic boxes, bewildering the audience.

Beyond Belief (2008–2013)

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

Pantomimes

De Vere played his first panto villain in Liverpool at the Empire in 1989 with American television star Mr T. De Vere was a veteran pantomime villain who made several appearances at Liverpool's Royal Court theatre, along with his trusty St Bernard Schnorbitz. He was also a regular Panto Villain at St. Helens Theatre Royal throughout the 2000s with long time cohort Marc Lawlor.

Death

De Vere died at the age of 46 whilst on holiday in Thailand on 10 March 2014. He died after contracting pneumonia and suffering a heart attack.

References

1. The Bolton News (11 March 2014) The Bolton News: Bolton illusionist Richard De Vere dies suddenly in Thailand. The Bolton News
2. ^ Blackpool Gazette (11 March 2014) Blackpool Gazette: Blackpool stunned by death of showman Richard De Vere. Blackpool Gazette
3. ^ Liverpool Echo (11 March 2014) Liverpool Echo: Popular star of Mersey pantos dies in Thailand. Liverpool Echo
4. Blackpool Gazette (21 July 2004) Blackpool Gazette: Mystique - Horseshoe Bar, Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Blackpool Gazette
5. BBC News (11 March 2014) BBC News: Death of Mystique illusionist Richard De Vere. BBC News
6. Blackpool Gazette (28 March 2014) Blackpool Gazette: Sad farewell to Blackpool magician. Blackpool Gazette

• 1967 births
• People from Bolton
• English magicians
• 2014 deaths
• 20th-century English businesspeople