85-year-old deaf man follows in Shakespeare’s footsteps over 146 miles: A deaf man from Great Rollright in Oxfordshire will be following in the famous playwright’s footsteps – tracing a trail known as Shakespeare’s Way from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford to the Globe Theatre in London this summer.

85-year-old Antony Sabin, whose hearing dog Branson alerts him to the sounds he cannot hear, is being supported by Patrick Stewart, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare’s Globe. Antony and Branson are aiming to raise a massive £35,000 for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, with some of the funds going towards a new loop system for deaf visitors to the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre. They will be waved off on the 146-mile route by well-wishers at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) open day from 11:30am on 19 July, with a special Hearing Dogs demonstration and treasure trail in The Dell, the RSC’s outdoor venue alongside the River Avon.

RSC Associate Artist, Patrick Stewart, is the patron of Antony’s Walk. He is currently performing in West End alongside Ian McKellen in Waiting for Godot, and is just about to reprise his role as Claudius in a film version of the RSC’s award winning and sell out production of Hamlet alongside David Tennant for the BBC. Antony and Patrick first met during the run of Hamlet in Stratford upon Avon. Patrick Stewart hopes to join him either at the start or the end of the walk. Patrick Stewart said: “Along with the RSC, I am so happy to support Antony and his dog Branson in this fantastic sponsored walk. I hope that at 85 I will still be taking on impressive challenges such as this!”

Antony’s route will take him through villages and towns in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire including Woodstock, Oxford and Marlow before he reaches London. A further three day’s walking will bring him to his final destination the world famous theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe on 8 August, where Antony and Branson will be invited on stage following a performance of Romeo and Juliet. Dominic Dromgoole, the Globe’s Artistic Director, said “Having done this walk myself, I can attest to its difficulty, and its length, and the great soreness of feet that goes with it. To manage it at 85 is the most extraordinary achievement. We will be delighted to welcome Antony at the Globe to celebrate the walk’s conclusion”.

Hearing Dog Branson alerts Antony to the sounds he cannot hear and together Antony and Branson have already raised funds for several other deaf people to become hearing dog recipients. Now aged 12, Branson is a little too old to partake in such extreme challenges. He’ll be joining Antony for parts of the walk and they hope that others too will join them at various stages of the route. In their eight years together, the partnership have walked nearly 500 miles and already raised more than £35,000. In 2000, they walked from Warwickshire to Devon and raised £5,000. In 2004, they walked the Seven Shires Way, a 234-mile walk around the county boundary of Oxfordshire, raising £15,000. In October 2006, they walked 70 miles through the Yorkshire Dales (see attached photo), raising a further £16,000. In November 2005, The Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire presented Antony Sabin with a C.S.V. award for Branson and his fundraising efforts for Hearing Dogs.

Antony says: “Being deaf is very challenging indeed. Having my beloved Branson looking out for me has made such a fantastic difference. We get a huge amount of pleasure raising money so that other deaf people can benefit too – and it is a great project that keep us fit!”

You can also sponsor Antony online at: http://www.justgiving.com/antonybransonshakespearewalk. For more details about the RSC open day, visit www.rsc.org.uk/whatson

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