My Haven–with eight favorite objects
There’s a piece published in The Mail on Sunday today that runs in the series My Haven.
The person is photographed in a place s/he considers a haven surrounded by eight objects that are meaningful to them.
The published piece about me–online anyway–leaves out close-ups of the objects, settling for the master shot and description of only six objects.
The little brown mug–miraculously restored by Donald Douglas, whose wedding present to us also features, and Beau–our world-famous cat–didn’t make the cut in the magazine–but are back in the frame here:
Mike Lawn at work on the Master shot.
Here’s my text with photos, as sent in to the newspaper, featuring close-ups of the objects taken by Meredith., who couldn’t resist adding a few extra photos!
My Old Bike:
—1938 Raleigh “stand-up and beg” bike
I did over ten thousand miles on this old jalopy riding into town to do voice overs from Chelsea to Soho and after we moved, from Chalk Farm to Soho.
It was fun, a little dangerous and the most reliable way of arriving on time.
2) Donald’s Bowl.
A wedding present from our friend, actor Donald Douglas. He was a fiery and passionate Cap’n McNeil in the first Poldark with his eye on Demelza! He is a talented artist and decorated and dedicated this lovely salad bowl to us on the occasion of our wedding.
3) The Anarchy Apron.
A gift from actor Michael Pennington and Arts administrator Prue Skene.
I love its provocative message and its punk appearance. It’s also very comfortable.
Michael and I have been friends since National Youth Theatre days.
4) My little Brown Mug
I drink my coffee out of it at breakfast. A pair of them were given to us by my beloved Aunt Mary a couple of years before she died aged 92. They are the work of a local potter in Aldburgh close to where she lived in Suffolk. That first coffee just doesn’t taste the same out of other mugs!
5) Winston Graham’s Ross Poldark
The copy of the first Poldark novel ROSS POLDARK by Winston Graham given to me in 1975 by the author with a very generous and kind inscription.
6) Photo of the Actors Company 1972.
This is the first season of the company formed by Ian McKellen and Edward Petherbridge. The actors chose the plays, the directors, the designers etc.. It was a strike for more control. Bankrupted me! (In this democratic company all of us actors got paid exactly the same– £50 a week!) Being a member for three years was hugely important in my life as an actor.
In the photo of the first Actors Company 1972:
L to R
Juan Moreno, Marian Diamond, Ian McKellen, Edward Petherbridge, Margery Mason, Sheila Reid, Frank Middlemass, Ronnie Stevens, me, Felicity Kendal, Robert Eddison, John Tordoff, Moira Redmond, Matthew Long, Tenniel Evans, Caroline Blakeston, Jack Shepherd.
7) Photo of me and my gorgeous wife, Meredith Wheeler!
Trying on out our black tie costumes for a big wedding we were attending in the U.S. Temperatures topped 106F and we looked a bit silly walking to the hotel reception in downtown Chicago in our black evening clothes!
8) Beau
He is one of our three indoor cats—we have three outdoor ones too. Meredith found him as a kitten in the garage one evening.
Someone, knowing we were a cat household, shoved him through the cat-flap. He sat, purring his heart out, in the palm of my hand. He’s now “top cat” and house guardian–but retains his placid sweetness unless sorely provoked.
Filed under: other sides to this life
