It is with sadness that The Shakespeare Code records the death of the wonderful poet and actress, Charlotte Mitchell……
……known to her family and friends as ‘Bunty’….
At her funeral at Mortlake Crematorium (on Friday, 18th May) her well known poem ‘Possessions’ was read…..
Also a new, unpublished poem was read…..
The Thing is…
(Part One – Daughter to Mother)
The thing is, Mother
When I ring your bell with flowers
There’s a way I hope you won’t be.
– Too anxious, too interested,
asking questions, curious.
And there’s a way I hope you will be –
casual, involved elsewhere
almost as if you’ve forgotten
I was due,
so I can slip into the old home
without any fuss
and we can be us –
Mother – please be cool
and just a bit preoccupied
when I ring the bell with flowers.
(Part Two – Mother to Daughter)
The thing is, Daughter,
when you ring my bell with flowers
there’s a way I hope you won’t be
critical
almost before you’re off the mat
looking at the way I am
my face, my hair etc.
And there’s a way I hope you will be –
overlooking my ageing,
my toenails which need cutting,
amused by my deafness
Daughter, please be cool
and just a bit preoccupied
when you ring my bell with flowers.
For many years Stewart Trotter would call on Bunty in Chiswick to treat her with Acupuncture.
At the end of the last century, he went over to Aarhus in Denmark to direct his rock version of Carmen called Carmen Latina.
Bunty was worried that Stewart might return to working full-time in the theatre, so wrote him this poem….
Don’t go to Watford
Don’t go to Watford, better to stay
And attend to you patients’ needs,
Don’t go to Watford or Glasgow, or Leeds
Don’t talk
Of going to be a theatre bloke
In York.
Well, take a theatre bloke, why not?
He couldn’t cure my ills,
Know which Puncture points
Or pills
See to Panic, Injury or Fall
He could only see to Egos,
Casting session, lighting call.
Anyone can cast an actor
When there’s millions of them all…..
So don’t go to Watford, Penzance or Portcaul
Do not waste your wondrous skills
On Luvvie stuff and flats and frills
When you can calm the Heart and Mind….
Don’t go to Watford, or Wexford or Glynde.
Bunty’s poem certainly worked. Stewart is in Practice to this day.
At the end of the Funeral, guests were invited to place a flower on Bunty’s wicker coffin.
The Service Sheet concluded with a simple……
‘We love you, Bunt’.
‘Gone to Devon’
If you would like to leave a word of appreciation in the box below, Stewart will pass it on to Bunty’s family.
(To read another unpublished poem by Charlotte Mitchell, please click:HERE! )
Much loved and respected
Charlotte had a fund of stories about her early days in Revue and in the works (and lives) of Flanders & Swann in particular, which she was happy to share. Fans were chuffed to have her as a guest-of-honour at a Get-Together at Swann’s house a few years back. I particularly cherish interviews and phone calls with her about her work and obscure aspects of post-war theatre!
A charming and lovely lady.
Leon Berger (Administrator)
THE FLANDERS & SWANN ESTATES
Bunty was a huge part of my family and my life for a few years a long time ago so would like to send my love and condolences to her family with love from Sophie Critchlow
I loved you Charlotte, especially in Black Beauty. Such a kind, warm and charismatic woman. I am devastated at your death. God bless you.
I first discovered Charlotte via “The Small Intricate Life of Gerald C Potter” She and Ian Carmuchael were brilliant as Diana and Gerald. I wrote her to express my appreciation and she replied with such a fulsome, long and very interesting letter. We corresponded a number of times over the years and I will always carry the memory of her as – not only a great actress and poet – but also as a very warm hearted human being
I have just heard Charlotte in a Goon Show! Ye Bandits of Sherwood Forest. Give it a list’ Such fun, including Sellers aside… Roger Diamond.
We did a radio comedy series in the sixties she was so supporttve and quite clearly loved her family passionately. Terrific actress, and poet.What a girl! Thank you.