Bernard Elias, the talented European actor and skater, appeared at the old SS Brighton ice rink in a spectacular show back in 1948. His partner in the act was Otto Rehorek and they were billed as Buddy & Baddy.

SS Brighton historian Trevor Chepstow says impresario Tom Arnold, who had booked them for Brighton, took them next to the Stoll Theatre in London.

They were also the first people to appear professionally on ice in Egypt and did a command performance for King Farouk.

Elias gave up skating for acting in 1961 and performed many leading roles on stage and screen, mainly in Germany and Switzerland. In 1979 he starred in The Canterbury Tales at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London to great acclaim.

He is also president of the Anne Frank Foundation. Elias was the cousin of the little girl whose diary, written during the Second World War, became world famous.

They last met in the Swiss Alps in 1938.

Mr Chepstow would welcome any more information about the famous Brighton ice rink. Email ssbrighton@hotmail.com.

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