大象传媒

I was born in 1937 and since the age of two, had always been encouraged by my parents to be a 'performer' in local Pantomime and dance School productions.

Eventually my parents decided to form a Concert Party, to entertain the public in local Village halls and Working Men's Clubs in Surrey, also in a small way, the Armed Forces. This was (in my parents minds) to help Churchill boost morale!

The Concert Party was called 'The Paulettes Variety Show' - me being Paulette and the only child in the group, named after me because - well it was my parents who ran it! They did not perform although my Mother had a beautiful voice. My Father was the Manager, my Mother the Producer. We had a bevy of pretty teenage girls who danced did tap and ballet, to include toe tap and musical comedy (don't really see that in todays climate). We had four male accordionists, a drummer and a pianist. We also had various comedians but no 'blue material' - my Mother vetted each one and any 'suspect' was out!

We had a super young Magician called Desmond who worked with us until he died of TB, no cure in those times. We even had Roy Castle as a Guest Star once when he was working his way to fame. The Troupe were very talented and took part in sketches and every type of music from Pop, Jazz, Blues and Classical numbers.

I remember one Village Hall in the Guildford area where we were bombarded with huge May Bugs during our finale. These creatures hatched just as we were in full swing and we must have looked crazy singing and ducking - but nobody left the stage.

Occasionally we sang for an American Soldier's Base, don't know where it was, but I remember the food they set out for us where I saw 'Ham' for the first time. I think our 'bevy of beauties' liked these occasions, because the young soldiers showed their appreciation with real stockings and so avoided the painting of legs which had to be done to look like stockings. They possibly came away with cigarettes as well but I do not recall this.

The other concerts that stay in my mind was our entertainment of the Airmen at St.Mary's Hospital, Roehampton. Many of these brave young men were very burnt and limbless and I think our jolly show really helped morale there. There were some wards that we were not allowed to visit because of the very gruesome injuries. At one time we did eight performances straight off and at the end I forgot the words of my song I was so embarassed.

On my Birthday there was a knock on our front door and when my Mother opened it, there was one of the wounded Airmen in a wheelchair, who had come all the way from Roehampton to deliver a card, a beautiful leather music case and a book called 'The Boyhood of Shakespeare' for me. We could not ask him in because we steps to the house, so my Mother gave him a cup of tea and he drank it on our door-step before making his long way back. I still have that VERY treasured card and the book but the music case eventually fell to pieces. I think the man's name was W.Jollife.

We lived in London and to have a break from the Blitz we went to Cannock in Staffordshire for a couple of months. We stayed at the 'White Lion' Pub. The Landlord used to stand me on the Bar and I would sing to the young Airmen who came in for a drink after their 'Ops'. I remember asking my parents why the merry young man who called me 'blue eyes' had not been back recently - just one of the many who had not been back.

I did not become a 'Star' when I grew up, at seventeen I entered the insurance world. I now live with my husband in beautiful Scotland, but on days like today (Rememberance Sunday) I can still see my cheerful pilot who has a special place in my memories.

Paulette

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