The John Griff Column: There Ain’t Nothing Like A Dame…

Have you ever had one of those ‘pinch me’ moments? The kind where your own subconscious quietly whispers in your ear ‘…remember this moment – it’s really happening and it’s really happening NOW’ ? Such was the case for me on Saturday afternoon last weekend. I’d previously written about it coming in the pages of this fine publication, but on the day the experience surpassed what I had imagined it might be – and all because of one, remarkable woman.

When in 1949 the musical ‘South Pacific’ was first written, Joanna Lumley was a toddler, aged just three. But Oscar Hammerstein II clearly had the gift of foresight when he wrote:

‘There ain’t nothin’ like a dame – Nothin’ in the world…’

Hammerstein could have been writing for a little girl, born in Kashmir and who would grow to become one of this country’s most celebrated people through her work, her generosity of spirit - and her heart. Her family is remembered on the walls of All Saints Church, although it was only recently established to be the case. On Saturday Dame Joanna Lumley supported it in its time of need. The church is aiming to raise roughly half a million pounds to fund repairs and renovations ahead of a hugely significant milestone in 2030. Time is against the appeal committee because as well as finding the money, the work has to be done and to the requisite standard. It really is a question of ‘all hands on deck’, therefore…

As far as the event itself went, pretty much everything passed off exactly as planned. The prime guest arrived in good time from London, an audience of around 350 gathered, filling many of the church pews. The lights and heating came on – and stayed on. And at 5pm a conversation of about forty minutes took place after which there enthusiastically delivered questions from the floor, filling the next twenty minutes. After a quick refresh in the George Row Club next door, Dame Joanna Lumley’s car took her back to London and her next engagement. Job done.

But there was so much more to the event than that bald statement of facts indicates. It’s so often HOW an event is conducted that makes it memorable – not just that it takes place. In this regard, Joanna Lumley proved why she is held in such high regard and with such affection. From the moment she stepped from her car and into All Saints she was the embodiment of charm, warmth and engagement, pausing to stop and talk to anyone and everyone, often hugging and holding hands with them. If it was an act then it was a masterclass in how to achieve greatness. But I am sure that it was no act. Backstage in the vestry before we went out to conduct the formal part of her visit, Joanna was every bit as charming, chatting with wonderful committee chairman Sir Peter Elwood, his wife Judy and Father Oliver Coss. A small tea party (‘just regular builder’s tea for me please!’ said the star guest) developed over Judy’s homemade cakes and Joanna engaged wholeheartedly in every part of every discussion until time intervened and everyone had to take their places.

I have been lucky to talk to many people over many years and for many reasons. On Saturday I spoke with someone who addressed her audience with genuine enthusiasm, good humour and more than a little irreverence. Reading those in front of her perfectly, she delivered both self-deprecating wit and thought-provoking comment. She engaged with me as well, so that our conversation was truly that. Above all, she delivered a sense of hope that things will get better from the dire situations that the world is now presented with at all four corners. One of the questions from the floor enquired if Joanna could be prevailed upon to take on a benign dictatorship of the United Kingdom. Cue a grin from ear to ear, a throaty, gravelly laugh from deep within and rapturous applause throughout the church.

I’m not sure, but I think Dame Joanna Lumley was visiting Northampton if not for the first time, then on one of very few occasions so far. She’s promised to return though – and with her composer/conductor Stephen Barlow. I deliberately dropped a question about what retirement might look like for her, for obvious reasons. She told me that she’d not appeared at the Althorp Literary Festival before – but would love to at some point. She’ll be appearing on television at Christmastime in the Amandaland festive special. She’s also in the throes of completing what may prove to be her final documentary series, featuring Argentina. It won’t be her final series because of her age, albeit that she’s now in her 81st year. Backstage in the All Saints vestry she said that the tv channels won’t now commission anything that doesn’t have a reality element. It’s perverse, when you consider that a documentary series is entirely that – reality.

On Saturday afternoon about 350 people (and I) fell in love all over again with the actress, author, activist, film maker and former model, Dame Joanna Lumley. We all reconnected with Purdey, Sapphire and Patsy and learned a little about what makes this remarkable lady tick. Along the way we all learned a little about ourselves too, I suspect. When she finally left on Saturday night, Joanna took with her a gift – a framed triptych of the three memorial plaques to her family ancestors. Since then she has been in touch to say how much she enjoyed visiting – and that the triptych already hangs on the wall of her study.

Pinch me.