The past months have been full on with the Dame Vera Lynn 100th Birthday Celebration at the London Palladium... and it finally took place on the 18th of March....
Dame Vera unfortunately wasn't able to be there, but to everyones delight HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN attended which made it a very special Occassion!
It was hard graft to get such a show on in that scale on in short space of time .. but I cannot tell you how proud I was of Dougie Squires in managing such an event..
It was one of those occasions that get you in your heart...and will be remembered in the memory bank forever .... It was special for many reasons....
Firstly it was done for the love of Dame Vera ... I did my very first dancing show on TV on a New Years TV Show , and Dougie used to choreograph her television shows at the BBC...
Dougie brought a lot of the cast on board so it was lovely to work with them...
cast included ANTHONY ANDREWS,BEAU DERMOTT,WAYNE SLEEP,DANCE VIBEZ, DAME ESTER RANTZEN, CLARE TEAL,ANNE REID ,ROBERT MEADMORE ,PAM ST CLEMENTS,SIR TIM RICE ANITA HARRIS ANITA DOBSON,BLAKE,HANNAH GORDON,BONNIE LANGFORD ALED JONES ALAN TITCHMARSH THE 6O'S TILLERS,ALLAN STEWART.BRADLEY WALSH ,RUSSELLWATSON EDDIE SLATTERY AND HONOR ROCHE HAYLEY WESTENRA,ROBERT ROBINSON,ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG SIMON CALLOW UNA STUBBS SUE POLLARD SWING TIME SWEETHEARTS PEARLIE KINGS AND QUEENS 3J'S THEATRE ARTS ,BOYS FROM BIRDS COLLEGE CHELSEA PENSIONERS
My best friend Reece Campbell with his company Check Events produced the technical production and I can't say how proud I was of him and his team. with great sound and lights So huge Thanks to Recce and his team from West Coast and Congo lighting for a superb job !
and delivered a first class production..
Then our back stage Angels Lisa Lee and Judy Green my show family and new member Dayita Sagger Howard and and all my sisters gang from Portsmouth to be ambassadors ... it really made the show the show like clockwork ... harding working to the core BUT THEY WERE FABULOUS...
12 children from my sisters dance school 3J'S came up to be the refugees ..bless them I hope they fun ! and a memory to measure for ever ...
Yet another treat was working with my boys from Birds College they are just fantastic guys TERRIFIC DANCERS !
But one of the most moving for me was working with all my dancing friends from yester years the Young Generation and Second Generation all 75 of them!... how fantastic was that... and real joy pleasure ...the love towards Dougie was amazing ... they flew from all over the world and uk to be there... so very special untrue and how proud of them I cannot say... goose bumps time...
and they loved performing again together which made it so magical.....
just so lovely being together again.... where had the years gone....
"My Dearest FRIENDS..... WOW !!!! I am lost for words ..... and a touch emotional seeing all your wonderful posts here on face book...Just to say a huge THANK YOU ... for making it an even more special event ! Thanks for your all your hard work...and all the effort you made from rehearsals to being there, costumes ! which looked fab! looking just incredible and being wonderful friends ....... watching you from the wings.. I can't tell you how proud I was ,goose bumps time.. I Know we all owe it to that special man Dougie bringing us together how lucky we are... I know how proud he felt seeing you up there on the stage dancing and performing..... a few tears ran down the cheeks ! He did a amazing job as ever and I know how proud we are of him... Its been a fun journey and hope one day we can repeat !!! lol !! I would like to give a special mention of THANKS from us all to Lisa Mulidore,Deborah Goodman.John Greaves Lisa Lee Judy Green Keeley Scott Sophie Treadwell Maxine Wilson For all the support and help they gave ...and to all of you Thank you xxxx'
Then there is to thank Matt Little and Squadronaires and the Maida Vale singers
and lastly Thank you to Virginia, Tom and Tesni Dame Vera Lynn's family who produced the show and Swing Time Sweet Heart Annie Riley who was one of the producers ...
Magic night to remember !
