I've always found Brinsworth House, the retirement home for showbiz folk, rather pitiful. Imagine all those egos vying for attention. The song and dance crowd whooping it up in the bar while the actors reminisce about the theatre, and because they're all so old and infirm, with memories fading fast, no one is aware of what they're up to. I read that a woman died falling off a bar stool. A great way to go if you have to though.
What's sad though, is the roll call of residents. The recently departed Alan Freeman, Richard O'Sullivan, so young and suffering from a stroke, so much so that he's out of it most of the time. Years ago, when Robin's Nest came back to TV for a repeat showing, we put in for an interview with him. His agent said he wouldn't do it, but if we wrote down some questions, he would answer them. And he did - in one sentence or less. Of course no one knew he was ill then, and how we cursed him for being precious. 'Who does he think he is?!' we cried. It's only Robin's bloody Nest.
Subsequently I was shocked to read he was in Brinsworth House. There's an article on the BBC News website today about it. I wasn't shocked to see Dame Edna's companion Madge, played by Emily Perry, is 100, as she's always looked old. But I was shocked to see Bruce Forsyth's first wife Penny is in there. I've no idea how old she is. She's clearly losing it too. I know people get old, but I always think of Penny Forsyth as a glamourpuss, a leggy Sixties' sex kitten. Not that I've even given her much thought really. So when you see she's a pensioner on the verge of senility, it comes as a surprise. What next, Sally Thomsett moves in? Connie Booth's propping up the bar?
6 comments:
It's sad when people reach this stage. And they always say that the best place for an actor to go is while he is on stage.
It's a shock seeing people you quite admired when you were young ageing before your eyes - a bit of a memento mori. The sad thing is, most Sixties and Seventies stars have aged quite well, so to see Richard O'Sullivan go downhill rather too quickly is a huge shock.
Clair
I would agree with that - I always thought of him as so young. I didn't realise that he was so ill.
I had a shock the other day when i found out that Floella Benjamin is 58 this year. She doesn't look any older than she did 25 yeras ago. It suddenly made me feel old.
I am on the executive committee of the EABF - we own Brinsworth. Please don't feel sorry or sad for the people who live there - it is an amazing place and they have a terrific quality of life.
It's not that I'm full of pity, Ian F. It's that I think it makes you feel rather old when you hear the stars of your youth are in a home.
I'm sure it's a great place to grow old. And has a fascinating history.
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