"FUN DOCTOR"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 171, 22 July 1942, Page 4

"FUN DOCTOR"

CHEERING PEOPLE

MAN WITH A MISSION

There is one man whose mission in life is to try and make other people cheerful. He is Mr. Norman Tate, more widely known as "the fun doctor." For the past thirty years his occupation has been that of an entertainer. Much of his services are given without charge, and his wide field at the moment includes visits to hospitals, public institutions and military camps.

Mr. Tate is an Aucklander, and was born here 52 years ago. He was educated at the Remuera and Grafton Schools, and then took up a life of entertaining. In the years that followed he travelled all over New Zealand and most of Australia.

This tall, thin and humorous-lcok-ing man has made a lasting impression on the minds of many children in New Zealand schools which he visited to show juggling ability with the manipulation of balls, clubs and plates, or skill as a musician. He has earned the gratitude of sick people in hospitals, and at military camps he is always welcome.

Appreciative Children Mr. Tate naively explains that entertaining is not a gold mine as far as a profession goes, but his personal needs are modest, and he gets a lot of enjoyment out of trying to improve the lot of others. Usually at the schools he shares half of a collection taken up, and on that basis is able to carry on and give free service to public institutions and the entertainment of the armed forces. In discussing audiences Mr. Tate said that children were always appreciative, but he has kindlv memories of receptions he has had from many adult audiences. He named one prison which he visited, and said that there was a strong demand for community singing, and a special request for the well-known song"Show Me the Way to Go Home." Treasured Autographs One of Mr. Tate's treasured belongings is an autograph album given to him in appreciation by Queensland Diggers. Notable names °n its pages include the signatures of the Duke of Gloucester, Michael J. Savage, Don Bradman, Jean Batten and quite a number cf GovernorGenerals who have held office in New Zealand or Australia. To carry out his pilgrimage, Mr. Tate says that it is necessary to keep physically fit, and he has found that boxing is the best aid towards that end. Incidentally it has brought him into close touch with manv noted exponents of that branch of athletics For the moment this entertainer's life is cramped, and with travel restrictions his scope is curtailed to his native New Zealand.