I was very sad to hear of the passing of another big name in the world of entertainment.

I had the pleasure of working with Lauren Bacall at the Theatre Royal in Brighton where I was stage manager for close on 30 years although it only seemed about half that time! It does when you enjoy what you are doing.

I was very lucky to have a great bunch of people to work with all the time I was there so much so that it was like being paid for doing a hobby.

My reason for writing is to tell of the time that Miss Bacall apologised to me.

She had been with us a few weeks earlier in a play called Sweet Bird of Youth. However this particular evening she had come to see a friend in a different play and had come backstage to see her after the show and was standing in the wings.

Now anyone who knows anything about the theatre will tell you that on curtain down it becomes quite manic, especially on the last night as this is when the crew take down the set and load it on to the haulage trucks waiting outside to take it to another venue.

So you can imagine how dangerous the place can suddenly become with huge pieces of scenery being rushed out the door and other large lumps flying in from above.

So when I spotted miss Bacall and her friend chatting on the side of the stage I nearly had a heart attack and had to rush over to tell her that she must go back to her friend’s dressing room immediately where they would be safe “Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry. I should have known better. Please forgive me!”

With that they were gone. I must say that she was a lovely person and very easy to work with. I’m glad that I met her.

Just thought that you might find my memory of Lauren Bacall interesting.

Roy Roe,

Dale Crescent,

Patcham