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Liam Gallagher’s Tour Manager, Ben Pomphrett with Production Manager, David Murphy.
THE TOURING INDUSTRY HELPS OUR FRONTLINE Trading AAA for NHS, Liam Gallagher’s Tour Manager, Ben Pomphrett, sits down with TPi’s Jacob Waite to discuss Help Our Frontline – a not-for-profit organisation which aims to support and offer resources to frontline workers, coordinated by individuals and suppliers from the touring industry.
Established as a token of the nation’s appreciation of the frontline staff working tirelessly on our behalf, Help Our Frontline was founded by Liam Gallagher’s Tour Manager, Ben Pomphrett, to harness the skills of the events and music industry in the fight against COVID-19. This includes providing sustenance and essential supplies to those who need it most, through a combination of fundraising and donations, in association with the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice and Myton Hospices. The last time Pomphrett graced the pages of TPi was during our coverage of Liam Gallagher’s latest arena tour when we were acquainted with the rest of the production team and their beer-proof consoles at the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool. Since then, the effects of a global pandemic have grounded all live music and events spaces across the globe – including
Pomphrett’s final batch of European touring with LG. “Liam’s Production Manager, David Murphy and I are both in relationships with nurses,” stated Pomphrett. “Mine in particular is an intensive care nurse, so we have a solid understanding of what those on the frontline are experiencing.” The idea behind Help Our Frontline arose when Pomphrett’s partner, who was on maternity leave at the time, was having conversations with colleagues about how things were getting tighter at work. “Restrictions were being put in place for people visiting. I recognised that nurses, and the NHS, were going to be in for a tough time ahead,” Pomphrett explained. “Units often receive donations of cakes and treats from patients’ families, which make for more enjoyable breaks, and I could see that was something that might fall by the wayside.” Pomphrett set out 08