05-03-2025
Accountancy firm joins line-up of partners for inaugural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival
A LEADING Worcestershire accountancy firm has pledged its support for the inaugural Rik Mayall Comedy Festival.
Ormerod Rutter, one of the county's largest employers with 240 staff, has joined Nicol & Co as a community partner for the festival, which will run from Saturday, May 31 to Saturday, June 7.
The festival, which is volunteer-led and supported by Rik Mayall's family, will feature a range of performances, screenings, and workshops at the Norbury Theatre and other venues across Droitwich.
It will celebrate Mayall's legacy while attracting new visitors to the town.
The firm will support the festival's final day event, Party in the Park, a community celebration featuring live comedy, music, and family-friendly entertainment.
Tony Archer, a partner at the firm for almost 30 years, is leading the firm's commitment to the festival.
He said: "At Ormerod Rutter, we are heavily involved in supporting our local community in any way that we can.
"We're one of the largest employers in the area with over 240 members of staff – this is the community that our team are part of, and the community that have been our clients throughout our 40-year history.
"We like to give back in any way we can.
"We were made aware of the festival, and wanted to be involved, especially as many of the partners and team are huge fans of local legend Rik."
Julian Powell, finance director of the festival, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Ormerod Rutter for their support as a community partner.
"As a well-respected business in the region, their commitment to the local community is evident, and we're delighted to have them involved in the festival's closing celebrations."
The firm, launched in Droitwich more than 40 years ago by Peter Ormerod and Garry Rutter, offers a wide range of accounting, audit, tax, and specialist advisory services.
Mr Ormerod said: "A huge part of our culture is to give back to the local community.
"We sponsor a variety of local grassroots sports teams.
"We also raise money for various local charities throughout the year as well as organising volunteer days with them for our team."
