DeltaLive Director Mark Bonner Celebrates his 60th Birthday
“I’m not turning sixty.” Says Mark. “I’m turning twenty for the third time! I’ve always done what I love doing, what I believe in, it comes naturally and so it doesn’t feel like work. I still enjoy coming into the office every day, meeting clients and being at the helm of DeltaLive. We’ve made some big announcements this year, including L-Acoustics acquiring a majority stake. While some may take that as a sign to step back, for me it represents an exciting opportunity for DeltaLive to continue to grow and diversify as a company.”
Mark’s Story
With over 40 years of experience, Mark’s impressive career has spanned a wealth of projects in the live events industry. Today we are honoured to be able to wish our DeltaLive Director, Mark Bonner, happy 60th birthday.
At fifteen Mark began his career with a part-time role at the Wimbledon Theatre. During this period, he accumulated a good knowledge of all the elements that go into making sure that a show goes on, no matter what.
Upon leaving school Mark went to work full time at the Wimbledon Theatre before transferring to the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End to become Head Flyman on the prestigious production of My Fair Lady. During his spare time Mark was invited to work on the sound team for the UK tour of Oklahoma. Mark then progressed to the role of theatre Sound Engineer on a David Wood Show, which toured the UK and Ireland for six months.
At the end of the tour Mark returned and took up a full-time position at the Richmond Theatre as Assistant Chief Electrician. After six months Mark joined Paul Farrah Sound (PFS), founded in 1979, becoming a director in 1982. Throughout his directorship with PFS, Mark was able to hone his skills as it grew. In 1984 another Director was appointed, Paul Keating, and this is how the two met.
In 1988 Mark and Paul founded Delta Sound, today DeltaLive. It was a time when industrial theatre, i.e. conferencing, was becoming more adventurous. The two saw an opportunity to develop something a little different.
DeltaLive have worked on numerous prestigious events, including The London 2012 Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014 and the Sochi Winter Olympics in the same year.
More recent projects include the award-winning sound for the 2018 BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, which DeltaLive have been involved with for 20 years. WWI Commemorative Events for the Somme in 2016 and Ypres in 2017. The London New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations is another highlight, along with the Royal Windsor Horse Show. This year, amongst others, Mark and DeltaLive will be involved with the D-Day Commemorations in both Portsmouth and France.
One of Mark’s most memorable moments of his career was working on Nelson Mandela’s address from South Africa House in London’s Trafalgar Square in July 1996. Another was when the BMW Car Company re-launched the classic Mini Car Range in Manchester.
Mark and DeltaLive have also been responsible for the sound at the UK’s G8 EU Presidency conferences at Gleneagles in 2005, The G20 Summit at The Excel Centre in London 2009 and G8 at Enniskillen in 2013.
In 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, DeltaLive designed and delivered the sound for the country’s celebrations including The River Pageant that took place along seven miles of the Thames, an enormous undertaking. As well as The Royal Weddings of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018.
Talking of DeltaLive and his remarkable career we asked several people who have worked with Mark over the years to send us a few words about their Mark moments.
Andy Jackson from Delta Sound: “I met Mark back in the late 80’s whilst on attachment to Paul Farrah Sound from the ABTT college. I remember Mark bounding down the stairs from the office and walking straight up to me and saying “Who are you… can you drive?” Next thing I knew, was that I was driving the infamous ‘automatic’ transit van from Kingston to Windsor theatre to meet Simon Biddulph, who’s greeting was “who are you…. give me a hand”. After returning safely to Kingston, it was only then I had the chance to explain to Mark that I could drive, I just didn’t have a driving license.”
Gary White from White Productions: “Mr Bonner is the epitome of a Gentleman and an industry icon. I love working alongside him…. always a true pleasure. “Who loves him the most…. I do!””
James Gordon from Audio Tonix: “The many sides of Mr Bonner, from being better at golf than he would ever admit, drinking one too many red wines and buying all the raffle tickets or his true talent of making it all happen when it really matters. The later example was never more so than during London 2012 when he was the calm in the storm… I am honoured to call him a golfing partner and friend, congratulations on 60…”
Steve Lutley: “I have known Mark for many years and can honestly say Mark is one of the biggest, genuine personalities within our industry together with a huge heart and smile to match, a beautiful human being who truly cares about people. Happy birthday big man, here’s to the next 60.”
Chris Brain from Blackout Rigging: “Mark Bonner, like a fine wine, gets better with age. I’ve known Mark for twenty years plus and he is a good friend as well as work colleague and is one of the legends in our business. He will always help out and offer sound advice when I need it. You may not know, but Mark used to play football back in the Seventies/ Eighties in a West End theatre eleven. He used to get sent off quite a bit! Every Christmas the five of us, who were all born in 1959, go out for a ‘quiet lunch’ to celebrate that we are still here.”
Stewart Hudd from M-is: “I first met Mark in the mid-80’s and he has been one of my dearest friends ever since. One of my favourite memories of working with Mark was on a show in Hamburg where we went and had an ale or two the night before the gig. In the morning, somewhat hungover, Mark bent to get a cable from the flight case and toppled over head first into the flight case, obviously we didn’t laugh much at all about his plight”
Duncan Bell from Autograph: “I have known Mark for well over twenty years and have learned that Mark is one of life’s special people. He is larger than life in every sense and has been an industry legend forever and a day, and it’s my privilege to call him a friend. Happy Birthday”
Dave Plumb: “Well where to begin? I have known Mark since he and Paul were at ‘Paul Farrah Sound’. I remember many fun-filled nights when they were running that company for Paul Farrah in the days well before Uber. Then Mark and Paul got serious and started Delta Sound over the ensuing years. Mark and I have remained buddies, best mates and true friends, not seeing one another for years but when we meet up it always like we saw one another yesterday. One of my favourite incidents was in Eastbourne. It was a quite a convoluted and long evening with lots of waiting around. So Mark and I decided we would nip to the bar during any dry moments for a sherbert, there were quite a few dry moments. Long story short, we thought we were hilarious! Mark is a person who I value greatly and am glad to know as a friend.”
DeltaLive is now in its 31st year and has a staff of over 30. There is no doubt that this success has been due, in part, to Mark Bonner’s hard work, excellent business acumen and good all-round knowledge of the industry.
A message from Paul Keating
“To My First Wife – Mark Bonner!
I first met Mark back in 1983. I had been on my first job for Paul Farrah Sound, touring a children’s musical and was barely 18. Fortunately for me I had never met Mark before going out on tour. Mark had turned up one weekend to help me with the load-out. Unbeknown to me, first thing Monday morning, he steamed into the office and told Paul Farrah he should sack me as soon as possible, what an “Irish f****** idiot” he wailed! It was true, I was as green as the Irish grass I had come from. But I used my Irish Blarney to somehow stay on the tour, my career could have been so different!
Well, that set the tone for our now 36-year relationship. Statistically most marriages don’t last that long. What a journey it has been, you know the old saying, what goes on tour stays on tour. I could write several books of the times we have had over the years together, the incredible highs and of course the incredible lows and everything in between, both personally and professionally.
I am writing my book quietly in the background.
I did promise Mark I wouldn’t embarrass him, regaling all the moments of potential imprisonment, the hours in A&E and pending divorce.
Personally, speaking over the past 36 years when I lost my way, Mark re-directed me, he would always pick me up drunk and sober off the floor. When I put a foot in the wrong place he always pulled me back. When we failed and made mistakes he was one of few people that could always see the positive side of things and keep perspective.
Of course, with any relationship you have to work at it, but I can honestly say in the past three decades we have only ever argued as many times as fingers on one hand.
When I met Mark in 1983 I won the lottery of life, I know I’m biased, but you couldn’t find a better friend and business partner anywhere in life. Thank you for all the special times and memories, it’s like the quote, “it’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years”
Wishing you every happiness for your 60th birthday, may it be filled with Zoe and friends, lots of good French red wine and all washed down with 40 Camel Blue, god help the Uber driver!” Paul.
DeltaLive
because experience matters