Richard Stilgoe

Sir Richard Henry Simpson Stilgoe OBE DL born 28 March 1943 is a British songwriter lyricist and musician and broadcaster best known for his humorous songs and frequent television appearances His output includes collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Peter Skellern He is also a keen puzzler who has hosted several quiz shows and written several books on the subject Stilgoe is also notable for his charity work and fundraising In the 1980s he founded the Alchemy Foundation from his royalties from the American productions of Starlight Express and The Phantom of the Opera He is patron of the Surrey Care Trust in Woking In the late 1990s Stilgoe founded the Orpheus Centre which offers performing arts experiences to young people with disabilities In 2012 Stilgoe was knighted in the Queens Birthday Honours for his extensive charity work