Letter from Caroline - January 2010

Hello everyone,

I do hope you had a Merry Yule and I wish you all a Happy, Prosperous and, most of all, Healthy New Year.

If you're like me, you will, by now, be fed up with the weather and all this snow! There's far too much of it and, as I sit here writing, it's starting again. The sky is quite dark and gloomy. Talking of which, parts of 2009 were filled with gloom with the deaths of many of our dear friends.

So many friends in the 'business' have fallen this past year - The first was Danny La Rue. He was a wonderful performer and a pleasure to work with. I appeared with him many times at Theatre's up and down the country and always found him warm and friendly. However, he could be temperamental. He enjoyed Champagne and, written into his contract was a request there was a bottle in his dressing room. If it wasn't there he would throw a fit! If you knocked at his dressing room door and he was ready - corsets, frock, wig, jewellery etc., he welcomed you warmly - However, if he wasn't ready, woe betide anyone who knocked and entered without waiting for a reply! You would not be welcome - and you would be reminded time and time gain to "Knock and wait for an answer BEFORE entering!! We got on well and he liked working with me and he said, providing "Your frocks are not better than mine!".

We also lost our very good friend Neville King. He was a unique Ventriloquist - who began in The Black and White Minstrels. His talent for mimicry was second to none and on many occassions he pulled a fast one by throwing his voice. Once at lunch with him I was eating celery with cheese and biscuits. Suddenly, the celery began talking. "Put me down, put me down. Please don't eat me!" it cried. "I'm only a little stick, eat the bigger sticks first as they've lived longer than me!" The whole table was in stitches.

He was most famous for his routine with a dummy he named 'The Old Boy' who, whilst fastened in 'the' case would cry "Let me out...Let me out!". A couple of years ago, Neville and his wife Joan (who was a Television Topper) went on holiday. "How much luggage are you gonna take?" Neville asked Joan. "Stop squashing it. For goodness sake take another case" said Neville.
"I haven't another" said Joan.
Neville took 'The Old Boy' from it's case and they used that.
Back on stage in Leicester the day after returning from holiday, Neville began his routine. "Let me Out. Let me Out" screamed 'The Old Boy' from inside the case. After some more business Neville finally opened the case to find it still contained dirty washing from their holiday. (Thoughts rushed through his head. "God, she'll kill me - I was supposed to put this lot in the wash basket!").
He searched inside the case. No dummy. Just wishing! Eventually, still with his head inside the case he mimicked "Put me Back...Put me Back. I don't wanna get out today" Turning to the audience, he said "Oh dear. He's not well!" The whole audience gave a sigh of 'Aaaah' and Neville did the whole routine without the dummy!
Norman Collier said to me of Neville that "He always made it look so easy".

Patick Newley also passed. He was Editor of 'The Callboy' (The magazine of The British Music Hall Society). Luckily - and most gratefully - we have a new Editor in the shape of Geoff Bowden who promises to take the Magazine to new heights. Also leaving us was Johnny Dallas who was my Agent for Panto for many years and Edward Woodward who I appeared with many times in TV work. They will all be sadly missed and can never be replaced.

Work was good in 2009. I had dates for SAGA. Quite a lot of Paris visits, entertaining at the larger Hotels in after-dinner Cabaret and Music Hall, at Galleries LaFayette (with it's magnificent glass ceiling) and the Theatre de Paris. A show (with a 'fish and chips' supper) for our local Hospice - St. Gemma's - where we raised £550. Plus a lot of one-nighters. I had promised myself not to do as much in 2010 as I'm doing an MA Degree and didn't want to fall behind. However best laid plans of...Whenever the phone rings, if all's 'right' with the invitation to work, I can't seem to say no! (Gracie Fields had the same problem!!).

On a brighter note, loving Whitby as we do, we've bought a cottage there which we plan to rent out as a Holiday Let. So, if anyone out there would like to rent it for a week (Saturday to Saturday) or for short mid-week breaks, or would like further details, ring me on 0113 2886393 and I'll send you a little brochure. (More details - 'Whitby Cottage' link).

Whitby is an old fishing town near Scarborough. Unlike Scarborough, however, it has retained most of it's 'Old World Charm'. There is plenty to do - shops galore, pubs (some serving excellent food), restaurants and cafes (including the famous Magpie Fish Cafe), Trendy Wine Bars, indoor bowling alley and crazy golf, outdoors crazy golf (up on the west cliff) Pannett Park to stroll in, Pannett Park Museum (containg the largest display of Victorian Whitby Jet to be found anywhere and some Jurassic remains of dinosaurs).

There are Tour Buses every half-hour touring around Whitby - finishing at The Abbey - The Abbey Ruins, The Abbey Museum, the tea-rooms and St. Mary's Church. There is also the Train Station with a Steam Train service to Pickering over the moors.
Buses leave for Scarborough, Gateshead (The largest shopping complex I've seen!) plus all the little coves in between like Sandsend, Robin Hoods Bay, Staithes, Skinningrove (Tin Mine Museum and Tims cafe for a wholesome cheap meal).

The cottage sleeps seven in three bedrooms although it should be noted that the third bedroom has a restricted height on the door.
There is a pretty outside yard with secure gate.Inside - a hallway with a hanging rail, separate fully equipped kitchen with washing machine and a beautiful old pine dresser and matching corner cupboards.
Lovely homely lounge with period fireplace and 'living flame' gas fire. With TV (free-sat) Video/DVD player, CD/Cassett Player and a large library of Videos and DVD's, cassettes and CD's, books and a few games.
On the first floor is a large bedroom with double bed, settee and TV. All pine furniture. A large bathroom, also on the first floor, has a bath and electric shower over.
The second floor has a large attic bedroom with 1 double bed and 1 single. Another small attic bedroom (9 x 8.3) has a double bed - this is the one with a half size door - either suitable for a child or 'agile' adult! I find this room quite warm and cosy.

Well everyone. Do hope we meet up in 2010 and I thank you for your continued support.

Lots of Love and Blessings, Caroline.

Letter from Caroline - October 2009

Hello to all my Fans, Friends, Fellows, Familiars and those who couldn't care less!

Well, autumn is here - although it seems more like winter some days - especially last Saturday! We had the last of our garden parties last week when, on Saturday, friends and supporters from Derby and Nottingham Music Hall Association came back to our house after enjoying a day out at Millstones Restaurant where I was performing all week in a "Wartime Memories" Show .... You know the sort of thing .... I'm dressed in my RAF uniform singing 'Sing As We Go', 'Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer', 'Keep The Home Fires Burning', 'White Cliffs of Dover', 'Wish Me Luck' and 'We'll Meet Again' amongst many others of that era!

On Tuesdays we had friends back for eats and drinks after the show who work at Sainsbury's (where we shop!) who, bless them, keep supporting me. Wednesday was the turn of The British Legion and, last Saturday, folk from The Derby and Nottingham Music Hall Association. The coach arrived here at 5.00pm along with - Gale Force Winds, Heavy Rain and Dark Menacing Skies - however we all had a great evening squashed into our summer house like sardines (which normally seats 12 around an 8ft square table - although there is plenty of standing room) and totally forgot the weather!

I shall be seeing all the D and Notts lot again this Sunday at 'The Spot' Entertainment Centre for our annual luncheon where Bernie Clifton is topping the bill. The Show this year is called "Our Patron's Entertain" which means, as I'm one of the Patrons - I'll be doing a 10 minute bit myself - when I shall be 'Remembering Joyce Grenfell'.

Also on the bill will be Victoria Yellop (whose Mum was one of the original Tiller Girls). Victoria plays the violin beautifully and played "When You Wish Upon A Star" in the church at our dear friend and colleague Neville King's funeral (Neville was a brilliant ventriloquist who began in the Black and White Minstrels and continued on Stage and in TV until the end. He died on Sat 22nd Aug 09).

Duggie Chapman MBE will be compering. Duggie is known as Mr Blackpool - he puts on great variety summer shows in many of the larger venues in Blackpool. He is a Water Rat and helps to raise thousands of pounds for charity. Panto's are also his forte and I have appeared in many myself.

Jack Seaton will be bringing us 'Cockney Capers' - Jack used to be Tommy Trinder's side-kick and, on Sunday, will be performing some cheeky cockney comedy songs.

Lovely songstress, Beryl Johnson will sing us some Vera Lynn songs which, I know, the audience will love to join in with - especially as Vera and her vast repertoire are so popular at the moment. Beryl has appeared in most theatres in the country and now produces and directs Panto for Duggie Chapman.

Last - but not least - topping our bill this year is the zany comedian/singer/raconteur and compere Bernie Clifton (He of 'The Desert Song' and The Ostrich!). I spoke to him this morning and he told me a little story. He has just returned from Malaga where he went to meet a cruise ship to work on board. The queue at check-in at East Midlands Airport became quite a muddle as 2 busy flights were being checked in at once, one for Malaga and one for Prague. He was sat on the plane for Malaga just before 'take-off' when he turned to the lady sat next to him and said "Have you been to Prague before?" - The poor woman went white and stood up shouting "I want to get off - I'm on the wrong plane!" - I've told him he's a rotten sod but he just laughs!!

I have had some super 'gigs' this summer. I have been working at Cranage Hall, Cheshire for SAGA doing "An evening with Caroline Fields" where I included some Joyce Grenfell, Vera Lynn and Gracie Fields amongst others. I am pleased to say that Gracie is becoming increasingly popular at the moment and folk love to hear her songs and snatches of her life story (which I tell to accompany the songs).

I performed "The Life and Songs of Gracie Fields" over in Lancashire at Birtle nr Rochdale a couple of months ago, which went down very well considering I'm a Yorkshire lass trying to do a Lancs accent!! (Down in the south of England folk think it's the same accent - which it almost is - but in Rochdale they can usually tell the difference! - being as it's Gracie birthplace!) I think I got away with it!!!??.

I continue to jet over to Paris every month or two (doesn't it sound glamorous?). Believe me it is hard work. My costumes go by air freight a few days before I fly and what a palaver it is. A skip is sent from the airport. I pack it with my cabaret and music hall costumes/crinoline underslips/shoes and 'dots' (music for the trio who accompany me) and an inventory of the contents. Then a courier collects it. At the airport an official opens it. He rings me and, together, checking my inventory, we go through every item I've packed .... THEN HE TRIES TO REPACK IT!! ... Mmm .... I have learnt NOT to pack any personal items and usually take them with me in hand luggage. It's a good job I do. Once I got to my hotel and the skip hadn't arrived, luckily I had my frillies and toothbrush with me!!

Now before I forget, whilst at Millstones, my friend Pam took some video footage of me performing with the intention of putting it on YouTube. If my Website Manager Tony can put it on this site too you might also find it on here?

Do hope some of you can make the show I am putting on for St. Gemma's Hospice in Moortown, Leeds. They need all the help they can get! It is to be held at Pool Village Memorial Hall on Saturday 12th December at 7.00pm onwards. Supper is being delivered at 8pm. Tickets are £12 for adults and £8 for children - which includes a delicious hot fish and chip supper (cooked in vegetable oil) from the onward winning MAYPOLE Fisheries in Otley (West Yorkshire). On the bill is myself, funny man Billy Bedlam and, from Guy Holloway, music on the marimba. There will be dancing for all and some games for the little ones. There is also a bar and a raffle with some lovely prizes.

Closer to home - Mum is still settled in a very good nursing home with excellent care and, whilst we (myself and my siblings) feel guily she's there, we know that - after her illness in hospital - a slight stroke followed by double pneumonia, a chest infection and a kidney infection - she is in the right place. The staff are wonderful and she is putting on weight and enjoying life.

Well, all my playmates I shall say 'Goodbye' and Godbless' to you all. If you happen to get to one of my shows please make yourself known to me. Send a little note backstage and I'll meet you after the show in the foyer or the bar area.

Have a wonderful YULE

Love and blessings

Caroline xxx