A world class opera singer from Felixstowe has admitted he totally understands and empathises with one of the most susceptible suicide risk groups.

James Rutherford is the husband of Orwell Bridge campaigner Caroline Rutherford who has launched petition to get the government to act in implementing better safety measures to prevent people going into the river.

As a man five months off his 50th birthday and having seen his earnings seriously curtailed over the past 18 months, James is well aware many in his situation find it difficult to cope.

James was meant to be performing the lead role of Hans Sachs Die Meistersingering von Nurnberg at the Opernhaus in Liepzig today, (January 2) but just like many other operas in 2021, it has been cancelled, due to Germany's covid restriction.

"One has to be sympathetic to those in a similar situation to mine," said James. "I'm in my late 40s my job has gone up into thin air and I totally get it. I also totally get gentlemen of a certain age thinking I have not achieved anything, what is the point, Im no use here. I can picture this man pulling up in his car, having a cigarette then going over. What else has he got?".

Caroline's petition has reached 1,000 signatures towards her initial 10,000 target, but the couple feel action is needed now as the pandemic continues to create havoc on people's lives and livelihoods.

James said: "The numbers are getting higher and higher and we have not even touched the after effects of the pandemic with mental health, which will go far beyond this, perhaps even the next decade."

"I has been very tough for everyone in the entertainment industry, it has been mentally very challenging. I know quite a few colleagues on an international and professional level, that have quit."

James knows how fortunate he is to have the support of his understanding wife Caroline, a charity manager with Just42, who is also a good listener.

"I did not earn a anything and nor did Mr Sunak give me anything all that time, so living off a charity manager's salary was quite interesting," said James.

Caroline's heartfelt reasons for launching campaign.

Sign the Orwell Bridge petition here...

World famous soloist and oratorio

A renowned baritone, James has appeared as a soloist in concert and oratorio at top venues across the world.. After completing his studies in theology at Durham University he studied singing at the Royal College of Music in London and the National Opera Studio. In 1997 he won second prize in the Kathleen Ferrier Awards and in 2006 won the inaugural Seattle Opera International Wagner Competition, made his stage debut in September 1999 singing the title role of Verdi's Falstaff with the British Youth Opera at London's Peacock Theatre An acknowledged expert in his interpretations of German romantic opera. James has sung Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for the Bayreuth Festival (debut 2010, 2011), Wiener Staatsoper, Hamburg Staatsoper, Cologne Opera, San Francisco Opera, Budapest Wagner Festival and Glyndebourne Festival; Wolfram in Tannhäuser for San Francisco Opera; Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde for Washington National Opera; the title role in Der Fliegende Holländer for the Budapest Wagner Festival as well as Amfortas in Parsifal and Holländer with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons. His Strauss roles include Jochanaan Salome at the Wiener Staatsoper, Berlin Staatsoper and Opéra National de Montpellier; Mandryka in Arabella with the Dutch National Opera, Hamburg Staatsoper and Liceu, Barcelona; Orestes Elektra for Hamburg Staatsoper and the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Faninal in Der Rosenkavalier for Frankfurt Opera. Following a guest contract as Lysiart in a new production of Euryanthe in 2015, he began a long-term contract with the Frankfurt Opera. Highlights of his first season include a new production of Der Fliegende Holländer and his first Wotan/Wanderer in complete Ring cycles. Plans for 2016-2017 include Ford in Falstaff and Mandryka at Frankfurt Opera and debuts at Deutsche Oper, Berlin as Wolfram and Stuttgart Opera as Holländer. James has released three solo recordings on the BIS Records label: "Most Grand To Die" (early 20th Century English songs) with pianist Eugene Ast; "Rutherford Sings Wagner" with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrew Litton (2014); and most recently Schubert: Schwanengesang with the pianist Eugene Asti.