HANTS!

A lovely few days with my best mate here at the cottage, the weather was lovely so did a few tourist things lol

THE GREY HOUND STOCKBRIDGE

The Greyhound on the Test in Stockbridge Hants 
The setting is lovely.... and food is great ... staff lovely 


FANTASTIC MANCHESTER !

Went to see our friends in Manchester ! For a fab weekend … so cheered me up!

A flying visit to Blackpool just enough time to catch my breath and paddle my feet in the sea ! it was heaven, the water was so warm! Saw my favourite girls Molly & Bailey ! Then hot footed to Manchester ! WOW what a change ... vibrant, exciting, place to be ... its a very social place with great Bars and Restaurants and fun activities! So lots of laughter and walking & eating. I was even able to do the Generation class on the Sunday ! in a fabulous apartment ... Huge Thanks to our dearest friends Reece & Scott the perfect hosts ! We had a great time

ps If in Manchester check out Three Little Words stylish Gin bar ( I don't like Gin but raspberry Gin fab!)

The Ivy

(service was excellent) and a fun place to go Flight Club Manchester.. Darts and brilliantly done !

We felt very safe in the city, checks were made everywhere!

masks worn etc all venues kept your distance and made space !

Trip to Chatsworth!

Always wanted to go … so we made the trip on a beautiful English summers day!

it was lovely the house the gardens just fab !

The summer in our cottage and around Wherwell

A pictures says a thousand words …

So here is a look at summer at the cottage and the village with my lovely walks …. and neighbouring villages !

MY DEAR BROTHER RICHARD .......

My dear brother Richard passed away late last year, on July 3rd his beloved family in Denmark

spread his ashes … so very touching ….

DEAR JOHHNY BEATTIE

The sad passing of JOHNNY BEATTIE MBE

A true Scottish comedy Legend,I was very fortunate to work with Johnny on many shows at his beloved Gaiety Theatre Ayr and at The Pavillon Glasgow. Such a lovely warm man, Always looked forward in working with him... I learnt so much from him, he knew the Gaiety audience like the back of his hand,In his first spot would always reel off the names of the audience with out it on paper ! He had scripts of every Comedy sketch possible, watching him at his craft in rehearsals with Anne Fields was hilarious ! A true gentlemen of the Theatre, I hope Jamie is there with all your friends for rehearsals for "The Gaiety Whirl 'high in the sky!

Love and thoughts to Maureen and Louise Beattie and all family and friends x

DAME VERY LYNN

I have been reading all the lovely messages on Face book of the sad passing of Dame Vera Lynne, she touched and meant so much to so many, with her talent and all her charitable work. 'We'll meet again' was her signature song how iconic it has become, amazing only a few weeks ago it was rereleased, its almost our second national anthem .

My first BBC television show starred Dame Vera bringing in the New Year in 1977!

over the years have been fortunate to work on some amazing production events that starred her. Major Sir Micheal Parker KCVO OBE The Queens 40th celebration with a cast of over 2000 at Earles court, VE DAY 50th celebration Hyde Park, when she performed the finale it was goose bump time . VJ Day at Horse guards, numerous appearances for the Not Forgotten Association a charity close to her heart , as she would say 'Her BOYS "

Then was honoured to be part of the team to celebrate Dame Vera's 100 Birthday at the London Palladium in aid of her children's foundation .A star studded show with a cast of over 450 performers and orchestra at the helm was Dougie Squires who directed and produced with Tesni Jones and Annie Riley, production by Reece Campbell Check Events

It brought back together 90 of Dougie's Generation dancers from all over the world that had appeared in her television shows an events ,the icing on the cake was Her Majesty the Queen came to celebrate Dame Vera's 100th

A Magical evening.

My fondest memory was having tea with Dame Vera and she and Dougie chatting away about the shows they had done together and her love of Tap Dancing ! As we were leaving Annie was sitting by her side iand they began to sing together it was so gentle and very touching .... God bless Dear Dame Vera x

"IT WONT BE LONG !'

THE GENERATION DANCERS

‘IT WON’T BE LONG UNTIL WE ARE TOGETHER’

CORONAVIRUS 19 Inspired JACKIE TRAVERS one of the GENERATION DANCERS , to write the lyrics of this song about missing Friends,family and loved ones...

Generation Dancers started as a reunion 4 years ago of all the dancers /performers that worked for Dougie Squires OBE MVO over the past 6 decades ...

Dougie who created the Young Generation and Second Generation song and dance team popular in the 60’s 70’s 80’s 90’s on television ,theatre cabaret ,revues all over the world, it changed the approach to dancing groups on tv .... he created a group of diversity and as a dancer he pushed you to be the best you could be and gave you inspiration to be individual but work as a team player.

The reunion was not a normal drinks and catch up! It was in DANCE ATTIC in a rehearsal studio leg warmers at the ready for a dance warm up and learn a routine. It was a magical occasion...generations of dancers through the decades came

The minute the music started everyone went back 30/40 /50years ago

The respect for Dougie was untoward, it was amazing to see everyone dance together ,it also brought friendships from long ago back together and created new friendships with the bond of passion for Dougie and the love of performing and dance .From that first reunion dancers meet every month from all over the uk for GENERATION DANCE CLASS .... and during this corona virus Antony Johns has been giving classes on line every Sunday to the GENERATION FAMILY that it has become .

Dougie was producing and directing Dame Vera Lynne ‘s 100th birthday celebration at the London palladium , the idea was brought to the table that over the years Dougie had worked with Dame Vera Lynne on her BBC Television series with the young generation dancers ,and then on special events msuch as Q40,VE AND VJ 50 ,VE 60’ to name but a few , for them to perform in the celebration ....thinking only 20 would want to perform again ,but no ,90 Generation dancers were back on stage performing again for Dame Vera ,In front of Her majesty the Queen ...

Multi talented Jackie Travers after class on ZOOM chat said she was inspired to write a song about this very strange time we find our selves in... she wrote the lyrics and working with Nick Rye for the music created this song, IT WONT BE LONG , Then the task of getting everyone to sing and record edit it and produce ....

It was always in mind that we would do this for Dame Vera’s charity that brought everyone back performing together again .

Then hearing of the sad news of the passing of Dame Vera Lynne it is a A natural fitting tribute from the GENERATION dancers with love

So a huge thank you and love to the amazing Jackie Travers and Nic Rye .

We know it’s a tough time for everyone but if you could spare a few pennies. We would all be most grateful ... stay safe, be kind , all our love xxx

T

https://www.facebook.com/643109156/posts/10157564661969157/

GENERATION DANCE CLASSES

These past months through lockdown and beyond I have been hosting Generation Dance classes every Sunday at 11am ... The class is open to everyone that loves to dance.

It’s become a Generation family ! It’s international with dancers joining in from around the globe, Katy Harris Joins in at 6am in Miami!

It all started now four years ago with a reunion of Dancers who worked for Dougie Squires, coming together for a warm up and class ! It was so amazing, firstly we were all dancing together again and secondly the friendships that have been reunited and new friendships made ..It has become so special to so many many dancers .... as we were meeting every month at Dance Attic for a monthly class before lockdown .

It naturally opened up to dancers that didn’t even work for Dougie , but love to dance ...

I am so honoured to take the classes to such a great group of dancers &friends.

As a group they all appeared again at the London Palladium in Dame Vera Lynn’s 100th Birthday Celebration 90 of them!

Great to see them back on stage .

During lock down they raised money for the Royal Theatrical fund ( the classes are free but they wanted to say thank you ! See the kind of wonderful group they are ) also

Recorded a song by Jackie Travers “it won’t be long until we are together ‘ during lockdown raising money for Dame Vera’s children charity ...

Every week I get lovely messages which mean so much ...

So if you aren’t a member and would like to join in on the fun send a request to join I

Palladium generation dancers page

Its free...Classes Sundays at 11am

ON FACE BOOK

PALLADIUM GENERATION DANCERS PAGE

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN IN ON THE FUN

SEND A REQUEST TO PALLADIUM GENERATION DANCERS PAGE !

FRIENDS !

Fab weekend with my best friends …. so lovely to see them after the lockdown… we had lovely walks with my two favourite girls Molly and Bailey x

UP DATE 2019!

Its been a while since I last blogged, since April I think what with Corona Virus and everything else I also have had technical issues with website but now we are getting back on track with it all!

so my blog will be uploaded for 2019 as my last blog was 2018 on here lol

Well what a time its been, it all seems so crazy and unreal and don’t know where the time has gone, just flown past .

Just before the lock down Dougie had a spell in hospital and was a god send that he was released just before that I have able to look after him, bringing back to being Dougie !

Happy to say my family and friends have all stayed safe and well, It was very hard for everyone not being able to see family and friends but staying safe has been vital for everyone

I have to say that I have been lucky to be in this village where we felt quite safe,I had lovely walks enjoyed the garden and cooked and cooked and cooked and Dougie and I enjoyed our time together…

I have enjoyed actually having a breather from work, the pressure of work and all that goes with it ….

and I am sure we all have had time to reflect…. our little world here became so lush the air the trees the birds was a joy to see it felt like nature was having a fresh breath of air …

we’ve had our fair of watching tv and have caught up in things we never would have watched thank god for Netflix . All I can say is Dougie has become you tube mad …. and reading like there is no tomorrow …

I feel I dont seem to have stopped .. As I said earlier where the time has gone my day is so full as I am sure everyone else’s is … I have calmed down on the cooking as I felt I was in kitchen 24/7 to begin with, cleaning (which I love hahah) and gardening and looking after his lordship and having a hour walk a day the days flew by… did I feel guilty not working ….. No …..

I so enjoyed my first meal out after lockdown that was so special…. being waited on was just fabulous ….

The first times seeing family and friends has also been very special indeed, When it was safe to do so …Lovely to see my family the first time i saw them was celebrating my Mother’s 90th Birthday a glorious May day .

my best mates came down from Manchester which was just wonderful, seeing them and while late we did our first trip to see Dougie’s family Nottinghamshire and then to Manchester for a few days which was great fun.

With visits from friends down to our village has also been fantastic seeing the Georges , Jackie Travers the golden girls Joan,Lynda and Donna from LA Jeff & Robert, a lovely spread out lunch with the gang at the GreyHound in Stockbridge ( My new favourite place )

News on Generation dance class well during this lock down I started doing a class on line one Sunday to see how it would go, I put it out there and the response was amazing , I didn’t charge as I felt we were all in the same boat .. but we have been doing classes now every Sunday live on facebook for all to join in. been crazy ! I have been very touched that Lucy Greaves quietly arranged and raised over £1000.00 for the Royal Theatrical fund in tribute to the classes I have given

Also during the lock down one of the Generation Dancers Jackie Travers wrote a song It won’t be long until we are together” and all the Generation dancers with the magic of technology recored the track and Nick produced it and did an amazing video with proceeds going to Dame Vera Lynn’s children’s charity

so that has been very special …

So really thats it all I think in a nutshell Thats the quick lock down catch up… will post special events as well

but if anyone reads it … remember

Wash your hands stay inside….. thank you baked potato

only shop in grocery stores… thank you beaked potato

and if you want to have a better day …

listen to what Baked potato says …

that song drove us insane lol!

take care stay safe ….. love Antx

Horse show 2018!

Here at Olympia working on the annual Olympia Horse Show with the show Finale !

so Rehearsals are done open tomorrow … Thanks to all at Birds College … and all the team….!

GREATEST SHOW!


What a Party! Thanks to all at Trevor George Entertainment the fabulous Dancers, Arielists,Drummers,Jugglers and 40 Choir ! All the team at drp amazing creation of theme setting for event, in every area, the crew, lighting, sound . Stage management special Thanks to Holly Andrews producer of Event and to CEO of Drp Dale Parmenter for his vision and style !

Circus of Dreams

Always a pleasure to work with David and Tony of @IMPACT ARTISTS who have produced Party events all over the Uk for this festive season, multi Talented they have great Acts for every kind of Event and apart from that they ar the ACRO CHAPS who are just brilliant!

Southampton Circus of Dreams

GENERATION DANCE CLASS DECEMBER !

A great day with the Generation Family so to speak! At Dance Attic in the studio! not only the monthly class but it was filmed for finger crossed a pilot Tv Programme… they would so love that xx they worked so hard today ! bless em and love them all it very special ….

Rehearsals for HORSE SHOW 2018!

Had a great day at Birds College for auditions and rehearsals for the Horse Show at Olympia 2018!