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Thanks to Nancy H. and David W. for this Photo
Thanks to Joan S -- UK
Dame Judi joins her friends for a cause Thanks to
Joan S -- UK -- for this photo and article
readings selected and arranged by John Moffat
narrated by Dame Judi Dench John Moffat Geoffrey Palmer
"Fond and Familiar" is a celebration of the works of what Longfellow called II The humbler poet whose songs gushed from the heart"; a tribute to the not quite first rate, to the affectionately remembered and to the almost forgotten. Still lingering in the shadows of half-forgotten songs, poems and stories which were once immensely popular and widely known but which time turned into cliches and then into subjects for parody. Sometimes only the parody is remembered. Tonight we shall revive the originals. The majority of these items were written to be spoken and performed and deal with courage, tenderness, moral rectitude and soul stirring emotions ... but we have not overlooked the comic and the curious. The works of such well-known balladeers as Robert Service, George R. Sims, Ella Wheeler Wilcox and Rudynard Kipling are represented, but perhaps our most significant contributor is that underpraised but vastly popular and prolific bard, our old friend Anon. We think we
can promise a few surprises.
Her career began with several seasons with the Old Vic Company where amongst other roles she played Ophelia (Hamlet), Katherine (Henry V) Cecily (The Importance of Being Ernest) and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), and appeared with the company at two Edinburgh Festivals, Venice and also on tour.
Her long association with The Royal
Shakespeare Company began in 1961 when she played Anya in "The Cherry
Orchard" at the Aldwych Theatre. Since then she has played many of
Shakespeare's heroines with the company, both in Stratford-upon-Avon and
London, amongst which her Viola, Beatrice, Adriana, Imogen and Lady
Macbeth were much admired. She also played a variety of
non-Shakespearean roles in such plays as Work for the National Theatre has included Lady Bracknell, the title role in Cleopatra, Gertrude in Hamlet, Arkadina in The Seagull, Desiree in "A Little Night Music", and Esme in "Amy's View" in London and New York. Her most recent roles on the London stage were in "Filumena" and "The Royal Family" both for the Peter Hall Company. Dame Judi has also appeared in many commercial productions in the West End, including "The Wolf", "The Gay Lord Quex", "Mr. & Mrs. Nobody", "Pack of Lies" (these two with her husband Michael Williams ), "The Cherry Orchard", "The Plough and the Stars" and two musicals "Cabaret" and "The Good Companions". Her television appearances include the hugely popular series "A Fine Romance", in which she starred with her husband, as well as the drama series "Behaving Badly", and numerous plays including "Absolute Hell", "Ghosts", "The Browning Version" and "Mr. & Mrs. Edgehill", and the long-running series "As Time Goes By".
Films include "Henry V", "A Handful of
Dust", "A Room With a View", "84 Charing Cross Road", "Wetherby", "M" in
"Goldeneye", and "Tomorrow Never Dies", "Mrs. Brown", She was awarded the OBE in 1970 and became a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1988. John Moffat began his career by playing over two hundred parts with various repertory companies including Perth, Oxford, and Bristol Old Vic. He has since appeared in forty- two major London productions and played twice on Broadway. As a member of the Old Vic Company he appeared in seven productions and went to Russia and Poland playing Algy in " The Importance of Being Ernest" and de Stogumber in St. Joan. He was in six productions with the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre, including "The Country Wife" and "Luther" in which he played Cardinal Cajatan, receiving the Clarence Derwent Award for best supporting performance. He spent three years with the National Theatre at the Old Vic, with parts in "The Way of The World", "Coriolanus", "The White Devil" and played Judge Brack in Ingmar Bergrnan's production of "Hedda Gabler". Subsequently he was in the long-running Noel coward revue "Cowardy Custard" at the Mermaid. He also appeared in "The Seagull" and "The Bed Before Yesterday" at the Lyric Theatre. Between 1982 and1988 he was in various productions including "The Way of The World" at Chichester and "The Sleeping Prince" at the Haymarket. He acted Malvolio in "Twelfth Night" at the Open-Air Theatre Regent's Park, and then played in "Interpreters" at the Queen's Theatre, "Definitely the Bahamas" at the Orange Tree Theatre and then played Bernard Shaw in "Married Love" at Wyndhams. John's television
appearances include "Love in a Cold Climate, "The Body in the Library",
"Honour, Profit and Pleasure", "Night on The Town ", "All The World's A
Stage", In recent years he has devoted himself mainly to radio, and as a member of the Radio Drama Company he has appeared in hundreds of radio plays, playing Hercule Poirot in sixteen radio adaptations. He has also written five pantomimes in which he has frequently appeared as the Dame. Geoffrey Palmer joined the Royal Marines but on demobilisation, and with no career beckoning, Geoffrey drifted into the theatre. His first job was as unpaid trainee assistant stage manager at the Q Theatre, by Kew Bridge. From there he graduated to the Grand Theatre, Croydon and some years of repertory theatre at Leatherhead, Canterbury, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. This was followed by various tours and hundreds of small parts in undistinguished and forgettable television productions. His so called " break " came in John Osbome's "West of Suez" at the Royal Court with Ralph Richardson. Soon after this he had the pleasure of working with Paul Scofield in "Savages" by Christopher Hampton also at the Royal Court and for Laurence Olivier at the National in "Eden End" and was directed by John Gielgud in "Private Lives" at the Globe. Subsequent theatre included
"On Approval" at the Haymarket with Geraldine McEwan, Film appearances include "O
Lucky Man", "The Honorary Consul", "A Zed and Two Noughts" "Clockwise",
"A Fish Called Wanda", "The Madness of King George", "Mrs. Brown", and
"Tomorrow Never Dies". His many television appearances include "The Fall
and Rise of Reginald Perrin", "Butterflies", "The Insurance Man",
"Fairly Secret Army", Abbeyfield Great Missenden and District Society What is 'Abbeyfield and what are its beliefs? Abbeyfield provides accommodation and companionship for elderly people in family -sized houses, each with a resident house manager and supporting staff. Each house is owned and administered by its Society through a Volunteer Management Committee. The first house opened in 1956 and was the initiative of a group led by Richard Carr-Gomm who met at, a house in Abbeyfield Road, Bermondsey. The Abbeyfield movement quickly spread and there are 520 Societies throughout the United Kingdom, with about 820 houses providing accommodation for about 8,500 residents. Each society takes residents from its own area but in addition will take the relatives of local residents. The movements shared beliefs are: Older people have an important role to play amongst their families, friends and in the community. Overcoming loneliness and insecurity can make all the difference to an older person's wellbeing and quality of life. Local people have an essential part to play in helping older people in their community. The Great Missenden Abbeyfield opened in 1984 and was purpose built to provide very sheltered accommodation and companionship for 10 residents. Since then it has been enlarged to provide accommodation for 12 residents. Our aim now is to increase the capacity to 15 and improve the facilities and services it provides. Why do we need to expand and upgrade its facilities? People are living longer and many elderly people remain fit enough to continue living in their own homes for longer. As a result our new residents are older and a little more fragile than previously. This new generation of residents also expect a higher standard of accommodation, in particular rooms with en-suite facilities. Our operation has also been affected by changes in the legislation and regulations governing sheltered accommodation. In response to these factors and the evidence of increasing demand, the executive committee has decided to enlarge and upgrade our house in Great Missenden. What are we planning to do? There are six improvements we wish to provide: i) A new lounge and an upgraded and enlarge dining room. ( Now in use) ii) Three new room with en-suite facilities. iii) Fit a further 4 more rooms with en-suite facilities. iv) A small flat for visiting friends, relatives and potential residents. v) A door entry system for all 15 residents. vi) Improved natural lighting for four of the rear facing rooms. vii) 24 hour cover. How much money do we need? In total this project will
cost £210,000. With the help of a Social Housing Grant of £78,000, we
will have raised approximately £130,000. But we still need to find
£80,000. We are very grateful for your support tonight because with your
help we will raise £10,000. But if we are to raise he balance we will
need your support even more.
Just a quick post to
say what a lovely evening it was in Great
A Special Thanks to Joan S. -- UK -- for scanning and sending this to us
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