Tributes pour in for Bristol-trained actor Sir Patrick Stewart

Sir Patrick Stewart, who has died at the age of 86, has been described as a "treasured" actor and a "true champion" of the Bristol theatre school he trained at.

Tributes have poured in since Sir Patrick's death at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday after a "brief and poignant journey" with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body Dementia, according to a statement shared on his social media.

The acclaimed actor, who found global fame in Shakespeare productions, Star Trek and X-Men, had trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from the age of 17.

He was also a patron of local theatre company Unique Voice which tours schools, running drama workshops to educate children about domestic violence.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "He knew he stood upon a stage and he used that stage on behalf of others countless times."

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In a career that spanned seven decades, Sir Patrick received multiple awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.

His most notable roles included Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films.

He also had a distinguished stage career with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) that established him as one of the country's leading Shakespearean actors.

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (BOVTS) principal Stuart Harvey said his "exceptional" career stood as a testament to "the power of rigorous classical training".

He said: "Before becoming an international icon on stage and screen, Patrick honed his craft right here at the school as a member of the class of 1959.

"In recent years, we were deeply privileged to receive Sir Patrick's support. He remained forever proud of his BOVTS heritage.

"His legacy as a master of his craft and a true champion of our school will endure always."

Fellow alumnus and theatre director Sir Gregory Doran worked alongside Sir Stewart on a production of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra in 2006.

He recalled how the acclaimed actor "restored the magnificence" of the role.

"I'm realising that was why he was so great - he had this very solid, firm foundation [of training]," he said.

"That allowed him, in a way, to take the helm of the Starship Enterprise and fly around the galaxies. I shall miss him greatly."

Sir Doran said a performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol later would be dedicated to his memory.

Outside of work, Sir Patrick was a prominent campaigner against domestic abuse after witnessing his father beating his mother as a child.

He became a voluntary patron for Unique Voice in 2011, with co-director Krystal Keeley describing him as a "perfect fit" and an "amazing inspiration".

She said: "When we met him we were still like 'we can't believe you've chosen us', but he said it was a no-brainer.

"He cared deeply about giving a voice to people who were underserved. We will be forever grateful to him and incredibly proud that he chose to stand alongside us.

"He did it all with such warmth, such genuine care and kindness. It's a very sad day that the world has lost such a treasured artist."

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