He joins the company of such luminaries as David Hersey, Robert Bryan, Andrew Bridge and Francis Reid, who presented the award to him.
Another Fellow and ALD President Richard Pilbrow sent a message from the US which was read by Mark Jonathan who hosted the event:
"We are very fortunate to be lighting designers. We explore the cutting edge of art where it bonds with technology, in aid of telling stories on the stage. We manipulate light itself to evoke the imagination. Illumination to reveal our way in the world of theatre and beyond. Rick Fisher is one of the greats of our profession. Light matters.
"Rick's leadership of the ALD has made it matter so much more. Take it from me, starting an organisation is quite easy. Taking a mature one, and kicking it into a whole new life is hard. The ALD has always had enthusiastic members, but Rick, as our Chairman, has given it a whole new life... And an entirely new importance. We are marking his retirement as our chairman. He has our thanks.
"In 50 years, his extraordinary contribution will be remembered. Lighting designers will still wonder about how such perfection could be achieved... A boy soaring into the air... A spirit soaring above our sometime mundane world. That is what theatre can do. That is what light can do."
Fisher's successor as ALD Chair, Peter Mumford, added, "I can't think of a more appropriate choice to award an ALD Fellowship. Rick's commitment to the art of lighting design goes way beyond his own personal work which has been so successful and extends to a generosity and enthusiasm for the furtherance of the profession as a whole."
(Jim Evans)
