The Dream Factory      Hopes and Dreams      Haven House Hospice

Gordon Craig Theatre      Blackfish Academy      Talent Time      Paul Burton Radio Project      The Lady Taverners

Essex Wives Advisory Group      Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund      Grand Order of Lady Ratlings

The Grand Order of Lady Ratlings or GOLR is unquestionably one of the most prestigious charity organisations within the world of entertainment and to be invited to join The Order is one of the greatest honours that be bestowed. Vicki is therefore both proud to announce that she has been officially initiated as a Baby Ratling into The Grand Order of Lady Ratlings in a ceremony performed by Queen Ratling Babs Bruce, at Sessions House on the 14^th of April.

The Lady Ratlings are closely linked to The Grand Order of Water Rats founded in1889. The formation of The Lady Ratlings came later in 1929 as a result of a celebratory banquet being held at the GOWR club. The guest list included the wives, daughters and other female family members of The Order and it was at this event that the idea of creating a female section was first suggested. 

The growth of The GOLR was rapid, its first Queen Ratling, Lilian Russell being crowned by King Rat Fred Russell on the 12^th July 1929.

The main aim of the Order is to raise funds for worthy causes thus helping the sick, lonely and needy through its own charity ‘The Cup of Kindness’. The founder members formed the ‘Cup of Kindness’ in 1931 with its current President being Barbara Windsor M.B.E. Among those who have benefited to date are; The willow Foundation, Chicken Shed Theatre Company, MS Therapy Centre, The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Action For Kids and The Dame Vera Lynn Trust for Children with Cerebral Palsy. Fundraising events take place throughout the year the details of which can be found on The GOLR website.

Cricket is a great British institution from which The Lord’s Taverners Charity was formed in 1950. Very much a male fraternity one of its strictest rules barred women from membership. This presented something of a problem when Baroness Thatcher came to power as it had been the tradition for every Prime Minister hitherto to be offered an honorary membership to Lord’s Taverners. The solution was simple and thus The Lady Taverners was founded in 1987 with the Baroness being awarded the title of Honorary Lady Taverner No 1.

Vicki’s involvement with the charity was established over ten years ago and she is currently the President of the Essex Branch. Vicki is among many well known celebrity members from the world of cricket and entertainment that together form a vital faction of The Lord’s Taverners which has raised over £6 million for the cause. The main focus of The Lady Taverners is to raise funds for specially adapted mini-buses and to help make sport more accessible to young people who have social, physical or learning disabilities. Fundraising events take place all over the UK throughout the year and are many and varied. To date, activities in which Vicki has participated have been as diverse as entering into a 5 km run and judging a strawberry picking contest in addition to making numerous presentations of mini-buses, boats and sports equipment as well as attending a vast array of glittering balls, dinners, fashion shows, tournaments, quizzes and the like, all in the name of swelling funds.

Vicki is proud to announce that she has recently been adopted as a Patron of The Essex Women’s Advisory Group, also known as EWAG. The Chelmsford based charity has been set up to support and help raise the profile of young girls and women in Essex over a three-year project. Plans are well in hand for fundraising events in order to inspire local women in business as well as encourage high esteem and motivation. In so doing, the charity also aims to raise the profile of the County itself. The invitation for Vicki to become a Patron comes largely as a result of her being asked to speak at the Essex Women’s and Girl’s Appreciation Banquet in the magnificent surroundings of Hylands House in 2009. Captivating her audience with a speech recounting her life and career, Vicki joined other VIP guests in an evening that incorporated a display of clothing and accessories designed by local students, musical interludes by Rebecca Huish and Caroline Hall, while businesswomen Michelle Smith and Donna Smiles contributed to the ambience with floral designs and decorations.

The event, which was co hosted by The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre and the Chairman of Essex County Council, Mrs Elizabeth Hart, was organized by EWAG raising a massive £19,000 for the cause. Members of The Queen’s Guides and Essex female Police Cadets were also on hand to help with proceedings all of which was captured on camera by photographer Barbara White-Overton. Since being founded, the charity has attracted a great deal of media interest both in the press and on television with Vicki excited by the positive reaction.  One of her first roles as Patron will be to attend a lunch given by Essex Life Magazine and The Starr restaurant in Dunmow. The main planned event for 2010 is to take place over a whole day at Hylands Park on Saturday the 10^th of July. It will publicize ‘Essex Girls’ past and present as Role Models, exhibit the businesses owned or managed by Essex females. Promote their achievements in the arts and highlight the attractions of the County. The day will culminate with a fundraising evening event. For more information click here.

Vicki is proud to announce that she has recently been adopted to the Executive Committee of The Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund, Patron – Her Majesty The Queen. The role of the EABF as it is known is to care for people from the world of entertainment who need help through ill health, as a result of old age or hard times. Central to this support is Brinsworth House in Middlesex, it being the Fund’s dedicated nursing home, providing a haven of safety and tranquillity while catering to every need ranging from regular medical and therapy visits to pastoral care for all denominations. Also paramount is the variety of in-house entertainment for residents to enjoy. The history of the EABF dates back to the early 1900s evolving over time. In 1912 His Majesty King George V and Her Majesty Queen Mary, agreed to attend a Royal Command Performance in aid of the Fund and thus in 1921 The Royal Variety Performance became established as an annual and main fund raising event for the charity. This occasion is now firmly acknowledged by the world of showbusiness as one of the industry’s greatest and most prestigious events.  

Vicki is delighted to have become a Patron of the new charity The Dream Factory, a role she accepted at the beginning of the year. The Dream Factory has been set up fundraiser extraordinaire Avril Mills and by so doing, has made her own dream a reality. Avril was inspired by her young son Oliver who sadly died of leukaemia at the age of nine. While Oliver, a huge Eastenders fan, was having treatment in hospital, Avril arranged for him to meet Ross Kemp, Martine McCutcheon and Sid Owen. Liking the idea she went on to organize a wish for another patient who had always wanted to meet the Arsenal football  team. She subsequently went on to become fundraiser and events manager for Haven House Children’s Hospice before founding The Dream Factory. The aim of The Dream Factory is to brighten the lives and encourage hope for children and young adults with life threatening / limiting conditions and or severe disabilities by way of granting wishes or dreams. Dream Factory aspire to do everything within their power to grant a child’s wish, which could be anything from meeting their favourite star, footballer or sporting hero, take a ride in a limo, enjoy a pamper day, own the latest games console, laptop, i pod or mobile phone or take a magical trip to Lapland to meet Santa Claus or Disneyland to meet Mickey Mouse himself. No wish or dream is too big or small to be considered. Joining Vicki as Patrons are actors Ray Winstone, Patsy Palmer and Michelle Collins, Iain Duncan-Smith ( MP for Chingford), Larry and Doreen Golding (Pearly King and Queen for The Old Kent Road) and Dr Rory McCrea (GP and medical advisor to The Dream Factory).

The official launch took place on 28^th February at the fashionable Bar 195 in Epping where Vicki and fellow Patrons Ray Winstone and Doreen Golding joined forces with local figures and dignitaries to start the fundraising ball rolling. Invited guests took part in the money note game, marvelled at the slight of hand of Steve Barsby and rocked with mirth at the comic genius of host Mark Brewer while enjoying a glass of champagne and canapés which were donated free of charge during the important business of raising cash to grant the first wishes which to date have included a tea party with Winnie the Pooh and friends. Anyone wishing to support The Dream Factory by giving time or money donations, should get in touch direct to The Dream Factory on 0208 501 1234 or by emailing Avril Mills on avril.mills@yourdreamfactory.org. Forthcoming fundraising events include The Mayor of Redbridge Annual Civic Reception and Dinner, Charity of the Year Collections and Fundraising at The Mall - Ilford, A Caribbean Summer Ball and Trek Jordan in which Avril Mills and friends will trek across a Jordanian desert. For more information see Avril's Webpage.

Built as part of the Stevenage leisure complex, The Gordon Craig Theatre was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on 3^rd November 1976. Over the next fourteen years, the theatre amassed a strong and loyal audience following and in 1990 an independent club, known then as The Gordon Craig Theatre Club was founded. The purpose of the club was to provide support for the theatre in terms of  financial donations for projects such as the community spring and summer musicals from membership subscriptions and also contribute towards fundraising for certain items to benefit its customers. In return members were offered substantial benefits in terms of ticket price reductions to certain performances, first night parties with the stars, trips to West End productions, a regular newsletter, backstage tours and various other social events. The original membership of 213 quickly grew resulting in the formation of a 12 strong committee to ensure the smooth running of the club and in 1998 following her first professional engagement at the theatre, Vicki was invited to become club patron.

 ‘The invitation came as a great surprise,’ she explains. ‘I was both honoured and delighted to accept.’ In 2007, with ever changing technology and increasing workloads, the committee and members voted to hand over the day to day running of the club to the theatre itself with Vicki remaining as patron of the newly established Friends of the Gordon Craig Theatre. ‘The committee did a wonderful job for 17 years particularly in the last few months when they were working on much reduced numbers and all voluntarily,’ Vicki continues. ‘In addition to everything else they have done, the club has gained a great reputation among visiting performers for their generous hospitality and welcome at the first night parties. I have been immensely proud to act as club patron over the last 9 years under their regime and am equally excited to be carrying on under the new.’ So far in her role as patron, Vicki has been called upon to attend first night parties and club dinners as well as make presentations and speeches at various events. ‘Due to work commitments I can’t always get to as many first nights and events as I would like but I really enjoy taking part whenever possible,’ she explains. ‘I especially enjoy the first night parties. They are a great way for us as performers to meet our audiences, get feedback and find out what people want. To date, the club has also played a major role in encouraging new members, therefore increasing audience numbers. This is vital to the future of live theatre because let’s face it, without an audience, there is no theatre. I have no doubt that the Friends under its new direction will continue in a similar vein and look forward to the adventures that the future holds’

Vicki's first role under the new regime was to star in the latest of the theatre's summer musicals Annie in which she returned to one of her favourite roles, that of the tyrannical and drunken Miss Hannigan. 'I was absolutely delighted to be asked to play Hannigan again,' says Vicki. 'Especially here at the Gordon Craig. It was a wonderful experience and one I shall never forget.'

Vicki is delighted to announce that she has recently accepted an invitation to become Honorary Patron of the Blackfish Academy, based at The Roundhouse Theatre, in Dover, Kent.

Blackfish Academy was formed in 2005 by Richard Esdale, professional actor and director, while working in Ireland for BBC Television and during a national theatre tour. The Academy is an evolution of an original company formation that took place in 1998 known as Jig in the Box Productions. Blackfish provides professional workshops in all aspects of performing arts including:- acting techniques, physical theatre, contemporary dance, stage combat, stagecraft, stage management, circus skills, set design and much more. It is the intention of Blackfish to create a premier arts and entertainment centre giving people of all ages within the Dover area an outlet for their talents. Plans include facility expansion, creation of a strong employment and entrepreneurship training programme and expansion of the community theatre project. It was as a result of one such community production that the link between Vicki and Richard Esdale was forged. They met in 2005 while working together in the musical Annie at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, produced by Kevin Wood.

The production was just one of many in a series annually produced at the theatre to provide talented youngsters and amateur performers with the opportunity of working alongside high profile professionals. Says Vicki, “ I am thrilled and delighted to have been asked to become a Patron of Blackfish Arts Academy. I first met Richard, the Founder when we worked together in the musical Annie for Kevin Wood last year. The production was a particularly happy experience for me working with such talented youngsters and I was so impressed by Richard’s own drive and enthusiasm that I had  no  hesitation  in  accepting  his  request  to become a patron of the Academy. For me, it is so

important that our young people are given every opportunity to nurture their creative talents in all aspects of the business and the Blackfish Academy not only provides that opportunity but helps to build confidence and communication skills, acting as a major stepping stone to prospective professional careers. I feel this is so vital to the future of live theatre and as such, am honoured to be involved in the project in this way. I wish everyone concerned the very best of luck and look forward to watching developments with eager anticipation.” Performances in Jersey prevented Vicki from being present at the official launch which took place on the 30^th September 06 but she was able to send a personal message of support which was read on her behalf. Those attending included local County Councillors, MPs and community members.

Blackfish Academy is proud to announce the launch of their summer musical We Will Rock You. Blackfish are one of the few companies who have been granted permission to perform the musical outside the West End and the show is due to open on Tuesday 3^rd July running to Saturday 9^th July. Subject to finalising work commitments, Vicki very much hopes to be in attendance on the First Night.

a

Members of the Academy were given a real boost recently when Vicki took time out of her hectic schedule to spend a day with the youngsters. The day began with a visit to BBC Radio Tunbridge Wells for an interview with presenter Pat Sharp and several cast members of the Company’s forthcoming summer musical Fame. Ion a lively interview, they discussed the aims of the Academy together with details of the production before Vicki talked about her involvement with the group and how she became Patron. After the interviews Vicki travelled to Dover and the home of Blackfish where she met other members of the cast of Fame together with the production team and was given a tour of the Roundhouse before watching a rehearsal. It was Vicki’s first visit to the Academy which naturally generated a good deal of excitement.

“They are a fabulous group of people with an enormous amount of talent. I have had a wonderful day” she said. “It’s fantastic what Richard and his colleagues are doing here, it is first class. In reply, Founder Richard Esdale said “We are very proud and honoured to have such a wonderful actress as our Patron. She is great with young people and her visit has given them great inspiration. Vicki has supported our work at several levels and we were so pleased she was able to visit us. Later in the year a group from the Academy travelled to the Orchard Theatre in Dartford to see Vicki on stage inn the role that made her famous, Yvette in Allo Allo. Following the performance, there was an invitation for the young people to visit Vicki in her dressing room and get a feel for a working professional theatre. Needless to say everyone enjoyed the day immensely.

a

The purpose of the project was to record new radio dramas, written, directed and produced by Paul. The specially made recordings were then circulated to a number of hospital radio stations in Leicester and London for broadcast. In addition to benefiting patients and hospital staff, the project was designed to help amateur actors by giving them the chance to gain practical experience in radio drama and in many cases alongside high profile professionals. Such was the enthusiasm for Paul’s work that many of his celebrity patrons  volunteered to take part in his productions themselves.  Says Vicki, “I think Paul’s project was a wonderful idea and I am delighted to have been one of his patrons.

Vicki travelled to Quad studios in Leicester on Sunday 8^th July to take part in Paul’s latest radio play Brides to Be co starring Jeffrey Holland of Hi de Hi fame and Judy Buxton from On the Up, with Marilyn Ann Bird and Paul Burton himself completing the cast. Simon (Jeffrey Holland) and Grace (Judy Buxton) live together in near perfect harmony and are making plans for their forthcoming wedding. As part of the preparations, Grace invites best friend Julie (Vicki Michelle) and work colleague Emily (Marilyn Ann Bird) over to their flat to help her choose the perfect wedding dress aided by several glasses of a particularly acceptable wine. Unfortunately, plans for a convivial girl’s night in go drastically astray when Julie discovers the man her best friend intends to marry is the same man who left her standing at the alter two years earlier. How does Julie react and what will it do to Grace’s future happiness if she finds out. Also dragged into the tangled love triangle are Emily and an innocent and bemused pizza delivery man (Paul Burton). The play is written, produced and directed by Paul Burton and is currently being edited for transmission on hospital radio later this autumn.

a