Wendy Richard / Ian Carr/ Blossom Dearie RIP

[Sandy Shaw]

Sad news. Met Wendy Richard backstage at a Jim Bailey concert.
http://www.jimbaileyweb.com/
She was talking about playing Pauline and she said 'Well I'm mean't to be downtrodden but in real life I have really beautiful hands which is why I always try to hide them when I am on screen'. She indeed had very elegant hands.

Met Ian Carr (the jazz trumpeter, biographer and broadcaster) when I used to present a jazz programme for University Radio Bailrigg in the early 80's. I taped an interview with Ian after a concert by the United jazz and rock Ensemble I think. I remember him sounding surprised when I told him I'd just read his biography of Miles Davies. He was a super man and very modest about this own achievements.

Sadly, just looked at Ian Carr's site as read about his death in the paper yesterday only to find that Blossom Dearie (with whom he had collaborated) died back in early February. Always had a notion to see her 'live' but sadly this was not to be. Would have loved to have wandered into a jazz bar in NYC and to have heard her inimitable tones! Any other Blossom fans out there on this site?

[Deschanel]

RIP to all of them. Like your Wendy anecdote! I still enjoy watching "Are you Being Served" when it's on, with Wendy, she was a good comic actress.

I listen to a lot of good old jazz on the radio every day, and I regret i didn't know more about Blossom- but when she died I realized I recognized her tunes, and what an amazing bio. I would gladly join you on an imaginative trip to a NYC jazz club to hear her!

[Naughty Zoot]

Sandy:

Wendy Richard's passing has affected my deeply.

I live in the Los Angeles area & I regularly watch her performing on re-runs of Are you being served?

Alone against the "Over The Top performances " of the other characters, her Miss Brahms was quite real.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7913618.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7912764.stm

[Sandy Shaw]

Thanks for your comments Deschanel and Naughty Zoot. I always forget how popular Are You Being Served is 'over the pond'.

[Sandy Shaw]

Sorry double post.

[Sandy Shaw]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7933030.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7932976.stm


Link to story and pictures from Wendy Richard's funeral.