Distraught Doctor

Dr. Evadne Hinge is distraught over the burning down of the pavilion on the Grand Pier at Weston super Mare. For it was there that she experienced the biggest reception in all her long and illustrious career. One summers evening in July 1954, she was privileged to perform with the West Country augmented Symphony Orchestra a performance of Elgar’s violin concerto, in her own special arrangement for Piano, with a cadenza composed by and played herself on the banjo, the whole performance conducted by Dr.Evadne from the piano. A packed audience gathered as the warm sun began to set, and the sea gently lapped around the feet of the pier, sitting silent and enraptured throughout the performance. As the final notes died away there was a moment or two of complete, one might say stunned silence, before the packed house rose to it feet stamping and shouting, cheering and calling for more. Such a scene had not been witnessed on the Grand Pier, since Johnny Ray came and cried over everyone.

The mayor sitting in the front row next to Dr.Evadne’s friend and colleague Dame Hilda Bracket was in such a state of high excitement that in his rush to mount the platform to congratulate and shake the hand of Dr.Evadne, caught his mayoral chain on the top rail of the steps and came somersaulting back down right into the lap of Dame Hilda, who was shocked and alarmed, but being the long time pro she was, rose above it, and smiled and waved at the crowd. Later in the green room when the sherry was flowing freely, and surrounded by her friends and admirers, Dr.Evadne received a most distinguished guest who had been sitting unnoticed at the back of the auditorium, Arturo Toscanini the world famous conductor who happened to be spending a few day resting in a B&B on the sea front.

He warmly congratulated the Dr. And said he had never ever in all his life witnessed such an event, and was sorry to have to be returning to New York the very next morning. Everyone in the room wanted to speak to the great virtuoso, but he only had eyes for an effusive Dame Hilda with whom he spend the next hour and half chatting happily. The next morning the whole town was talking about the concert and Dr.Hinge and Dame Hilda were mobbed as they took their early morning walk along the promenade.

Sadly such warm and happy days seem now to have passed for ever, all we have to look forward to is that dear boy Nigel Kennedy, who lacking the imagination of a true artist, uses a violin for the Elgar concerto.

Reporter

FRANK BELSEY