Act 2, Scene 2: The volunteer
St John Ambulance
I was by now Divisional Superintendent of the No.1 City of London Division of St John, training its members and going on duties as a first aider myself. I was sent on courses to learn about leadership, initiative and presentation skills. I gained some practical nursing experience in Germany and the RAF Hospital at Ely which was to be useful years later.
Left: nursing at RAF Ely
Right: dancing on duty
Casualties Union www.casualtiesunion.org.uk
One day at the St John competitions in Croydon I saw some astonishing people acting the roles of casualties and patients with realistic injury make-up. It seemed like a focal point for my drama training, theatrical make-up skills and interest in first aid. I made enquiries to join them, and over the next 25 years became London Branch Leader, Regional Director, Senior Instructor, Honorary General Secretary and Honorary Life Member of the charity Casualties Union.
Left: a moment of fun while filming a cabin-crew first aid training video on an aircraft at Luton Airport in the middle of the night. The tan is real!
Right: make-up for a video about the treatment of acne.
Above: Safety Observer while filming a major incident exercise for Michael Buerke's BBC 999 television programme.
Creating an illusion of amputated finger.
DUNAV BALKAN GROUP
I met Narendra Kotiyan, Dunav's drummer, and joined them at his suggestion. We made recordings and concert tours in Bulgaria, Romania and Macedonia, and launched a CD at our Purcell Room concert on the South Bank. It has been an exciting challenge to my musicianship, and brought me close and lasting friendships. www.dunav.org.uk
At the Jersey Opera House, 1976
On film set for Nick Roeg's 'Two Deaths'
SMOGS
When I left school in 1961 I was not interested in reunions of the St Margaret's Old Girls' Society. The girls just seemed to talk about engagement rings and babies. But after a few decades I wanted to see them again and this time they were more interesting, with careers to talk about. I learned that the list of names and addresses had to be retyped every time they were updated, and offered to computerise it. Before long I was the SMOGS secretary, with a database that could produce lists and labels at the press of a button. I wrote a book on the history of our School. When my partner Stephen Ward died in 2002 I needed a new project, and Dominic (of Dunav) not only got me onto the Internet but showed me how to make a website. My book was sold out, so I included it on the website, and created lots of other pages, rich in photographs. It was well received among the Old Girls all over the world, and helped to keep our annual reunions going. Visit www.smogs.org.uk
This water-colour of the School from the back garden, used on the cover of my book about the School, shows three uniforms as worn by my Mother (right), my sister Amber (left) and by me (centre). Amber's daughter Diana also attended, as of course did Attie, my aunt Ivy, making three generations and five members of the family at the same school.
Music
Having learned the piano accordion while still at school and playing for the Folkestone District National Folk Dance Group, I was made good use of by the Society for International Folk Dancing when I settled in London. I earned some pocket money playing for their evening classes, and met specialist performing groups who welcomed a new musician, such as the Oberkengruppe oompah band, the Balalaika Dance Group, the Argonoffs and Dunav Balkan Group.
Below: Dressed as a Ukrainian for the Argonoffs dance group
Above: Playing Austrian marching and Bierkeller music with musicians from Sandhurst Military Academy.
I was honoured with the status of Commander Sister of the Order of St John, the next level up being Dame!
