Andrew Lloyd Webber was among those paying generous tribute this week to the Boyzone singing star Stephen Gately following his sudden death at his Majorcan holiday home. The world of the musical had suffered a sad loss, he said.

It happens that audiences in Oxford were the first to see Gately in his new role as a star of the musical stage. His performance as Joseph in Bill Kenright’s 2002 revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which later went on to triumph in the West End, was first seen at the Apollo Theatre (as it then was). I gave it a generous review, which I happen to know was of considerable encouragement to Gately at this important time in his career.

I wrote: “Oxford audiences should consider themselves lucky to be sharing in this significant moment for him. His first performance as Joseph was yesterday afternoon, and it was good — very good.

“Lloyd Webber, of course, has made it comparatively easy for all those who don the loincloth and glittering finery for the part by gifting them such wonderful, hummable tunes. But Gately’s own engaging personality, which steadily emerges in twinkling smiles and droll asides as the colourful spectacle continues, is another powerful weapon in winning the audience’s wholehearted support.”