OK this is a major push for the Wexham Park Ventilator Fund. We have some £19,000 in the account. We require £36,000. We are very kindly receiving the profit from the Maltman’s Green Summer Ball. The profit will come very much from the Auction. I have put up a weekend on Dorothy Lee my Hallberg Rassy 352 sailing boat as one of the prizes. Last time I did this the weekend went for £650. We want to do better than that this time. I am Master of Ceremonies for the evening I will also be running the auction. So I am very much singing for my supper, or rather the Ventilator Fund’s supper.

Then there is the Chiltern Shakespeare Company who are very kindly donating the profit from their show, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. During the run of their show on Sunday the15th June we will also be holding an evening called A Breath Of Fresh Air (Breath of fresh air/Ventilator, get it ? Oh, well suit yourselves) which will be an eclectic offering of song, verse, prose and sketch.

There will be songs from the top London shows sung by the stars themselves. A major star will run the show and we have other stars lined up. However, stars and their schedules being what they are it is always difficult to pin them down until near to the performance date but trust me we have some big names. And as soon as I have clearance to say so I shall be shouting from the rooftops.

You see, it’s a double edged sword. We need the money for the fund so we need a large audience and to get that we need stars but stars also need a large audience because otherwise we won’t have mazimised their star status. So, as much as we need them, we also need you to book tickets.

And of course there is the Midsummer Night’s Show to support, so I am asking for quite a bit of work here. And it is all in aid of getting a ventilator for Wexham Park Hospital.

It was all very well of She who must etc... to stand there in ITU and promise that we would make up their shortfall. Naturally she was grateful that her comatose husband was having his breathing done for him and being kept alive by one of these precious things. But little did she realise that the effort of raising the cash would practically kill him. For not only am I taking part in A Breath Of Fresh Air (now known as BOFA) but for some reason I forgot about the ‘no’ word when the director of Midsummer Night’s Dream asked if I would like to play the part of Theseus, Duke of Athens, and I am doing that as well.

It’s all part of my rehabilitation I tell myself. And of course being a dreadful show off, all of this standing up in front of people be it as an auctioneer or in BOFA or Dream is great fun.

Re BOFA and DREAM these are held at the estate of Hall Barn. Doors open 2 hours ahead of the performance and one can bring a picnic supper and eat this in the lovely grounds, down by the lake, on the lawns, by a folly etc. and feel quite gentrified, or indeed damp - from the grass - if you don’t bring a rug or chairs. The seated area is raked (you all get a good view) and covered (you all stay dry should think the unthinkable happen).

Here follow some of the details you need re dates etc and a bit about Hall Barn. However there is only one thing you really need and that is the booking number.

08700 667720

It is very important that you book.

Dates for Dream are 11- 14 and 18 – 21 June

Date for A Breath Of Fresh Air is – ONE NIGHT ONLY SUNDAY 15th June – Don’t Miss it !

I want to be able to walk in to ITU on the 30th June with a cheque for £36,000 and take them down to the Ventilator shop and buy them the machine !

As good old Fred Pontin used to say “Book early to avoid disappointment.”

Please support us and help us to reach our target for the Ventilator. I would try begging you but I think that might be demeaning. So please, please, please, please, please come. Apart from anything you’ll have a fabulous time at both or either of the shows.

Duncan