1. William Henry Ralph Reader, known as Ralph Reader, was a British actor, theatrical producer and songwriter, known for staging the original Gang Show, a variety entertainment presented by members of the Scouting movement, and for leading community singing at FA Cup Finals.
Ralph Reader was orphaned by the age of eight, and brought up by aunts and uncles.
Ralph Reader's employer took Reader to Brighton to buy supplies and then visit the Hippodrome theatre, where he saw many music hall stars of the day.
In 1920, Ralph Reader moved to America, working in various menial jobs, while acting in and directing off-Broadway shows.
In 1934, that became its title, and Ralph Reader acknowledged he was their producer.
Besides the Gang Shows, in 1936, Ralph Reader wrote and directed a dramatic pageant called The Boy Scout, with a cast of 1,500 Scouts at the Royal Albert Hall.
The German Ambassador, Joachim von Ribbentrop, attended the 1938 London Gang Show and invited Ralph Reader to visit the Hitler Youth Movement in Germany.
Boyle persuaded Ralph Reader to become an Intelligence Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve with the rank of Flight Lieutenant, although the diplomatic situation had deteriorated before he could take up von Ribbentrop's invitation.
On returning to England, Ralph Reader was ordered to expand the Gang Shows, while his visits to RAF stations allowed Ralph Reader to monitor subversive propaganda, which was a concern of the RAF high command.
Ralph Reader eventually raised twenty-four RAF Gang Show units and two female WAAF units, with a total establishment of nearly four hundred serving personnel.
Ralph Reader began producing the London Gang Show in 1950, usually at the Golders Green Hippodrome in north London, and wrote more songs and musical plays for the Scout Association.
Ralph Reader produced the Gang Show annually until 1974, and his association with it continued until his death.
Ralph Reader published an autobiography, It's Been Terrific, in 1953, with a second volume, Ralph Reader Remembers, in 1974.
Ralph Reader was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1957 "for services to the Boy Scouts Association".
Ralph Reader died in 1982, one week short of his 79th birthday.
Ralph Reader was interviewed twice for the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs ; only extracts from the later episode have survived.
Ralph Reader was the subject of This Is Your Life in November 1963, when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.