There were many who said that Riley appeared to be older than his years. He finished school at an early age, leaving a harsh childhood behind him, brimful of optimism and secure in the knowledge that his teacher, Fred Beardsley, had faith in him. Neither of them could have envisaged at the time how their lives would be intertwined.

          Fred encouraged Riley, a gifted mimic, when he was offered a position at The Little Palace Thetre in Fellburn. And then Riley surprised Fred by forming a close friendship with leading lady, Nyrene Forbes-Mason, who was nurturing his burgeoning talent as an actor. What Riley hadn’t told him was that he had great hopes of the relationship developing into something more.

          Over the subsequent years, Fred observed with amazement Riley’s rise to fame and fortune. As for his relationship with Nyrene, that did indeed change although not in the way that Riley had envisaged…