BRITAIN’S only ever Prime Minister to be assassinated is to have a radio play performed in his honour by a theatre company, Rahul Vashisht writes.

Spencer Perceval, of Ealing, was shot while in office in 1812 by a lone assailant as he entered the House of Commons.

John Bellingham, a merchant with a grievance against the government, was convicted at the Old Bailey of his murder and hanged in a public execution three days later.

Three Years a Prime Minister: The Remarkable Times of Spencer Perceval promises to be a fascinating and moving story, covering events in Mr Perceval’s short but notable career such as the abolition of the slave trade, the Napoleonic War, the madness of King George and the Luddite riots.

It will be performed by The Manor Players at All Saint’s Church on the 252nd anniversary of his birth in the church that was built as a memorial to him.

The church in Elm Grove Road, was built partly from a donation of more than £5,000 by Perceval’s granddaughter.

Fourteen actors will record the script in front of an audience on Saturday November 1 from 8pm. They will be playing a cast of 48, with several of the main characters appearing in period costume.

The play will then be edited before being broadcast on November 9 on Radio Wey, a volunteer-run online radio station that broadcasts to Ashford and St Peter’s hospitals, with outside listeners able to tune in online.

There is a guided tour of the church and a chance to see some of memorabilia from Perceval’s lifetime, including his death mask and a hand-written letter to his son gently chiding him to stop playing football and focus on his studies.

Director and performer Geoff Buckingham, 66, said: “It is a great opportunity to pay tribute to a man who lived in Ealing.

“It’s an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to tell this story.”

Mr Buckingham, who has worked as a mortgage broker for more than 40 years, has written many award-winning scripts and plays. These include the The Phantom of the Arts Centre, a one act play which beat more than 650 others to win the Diana Raffle Award and the Basil Miles Award, awarded by the Shepperton and Sunbury Arts Association for best event in Sunbury in 2012.

Tickets are £12 on the night or £10 in advance and can be purchased from Mr Buckingham on 07956 329756 or Rachel Marszalek, vicar of All Saints Church on 020 8992 2333 or email vicar@allsaintsealing.org.uk