Star-Struck Fan Remembers to Curtsy
By Sherry Lehman
A few short weeks ago, a group of hardy, longtime EastEnders fans were invited to dine with Wendy Richard ['no ‘s,’ please'], our own Queen of EastEnders; that is, our own 'Pauline Fowler,' Mistress of the Launderette, dispenser of service washes and much ancient wisdom and Albert Squarean lore.
Come sit here with me, I’ll put the kettle on. Yes, the one, the only, Wendy Richard, famous from Are you Being Served, and , of course, known to us as the wife of the late, lamented Arthur Fowler, and mother of three of Walford’s most shining lights.
The restaurant chosen for this occasion was not your East End curry takeaway, or Ian’s chippie, oh, no, mon frčre, this place was even fancier than the one where Carol and Bianca dined on a girls’ night out, that time they almost got picked up by two young blokes.
At about 5:30 someone called out 'There she is!' and we scurried to our seats. As Wendy and her companion John came in, I just had to do something, so I walked up and shyly presented her with the (now wilted) flowers I had brought.(It might have been better if I had waited until she got herself settled, as she had no choice but to put the flowers on a ledge behind the seats). And, speaking only for myself, I had the urge to curtsy, as if in the presence of the Queen. As she accepted the she asked my name and gave me a hug! I was over the moon! She appeared more petite than on TV, and looks years younger! Her 'looking' older on TV is evidence to me of her acting ability-the way she totally inhabits the character of 'Pauline Fowler.' After all, what many of us like most about EE is the fact that the show is not full of the plastic-looking overdressed characters we see on U.S. soaps.
At one point, Wendy admitted she just had to step out for a cigarette, or two, and a few of us joined her, even those not smoking. Outside she told us several funny anecdotes. I regret not having the 'bottle' to ask her about 'our ‘Chelle,' and if she still keeps in touch with Susan Tully (who so many of us miss).
Wendy gave us all our choice of two terrific signed photos. In one she is dressed up like a glittery rock star, and I wanted to make some remark that would show her how well I knew the show, so I said 'Gee, Danny Taurus wouldn’t know how to handle you if you looked like that?' [OK, lame, I know, but you try thinking on the spot!]
Best of all, when she bade us farewell, after several hours of fine food, pleasant chat, and really delicious deserts, she and John walked out to our spontaneous applause and standing ovation, and the rest of the diners wondered what honoured and beloved personage they had just been privileged to see.
Next visitor to our shores? 'David Wicks'? C’mon Larry, Tim: Get busy!
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