‘I tell you where you should go, Suzanne — Chechnya. It's fantastic. You can smoke everywhere there. You can smoke in an operating theatre in Chechnya.’ I will never forget the great Dame Ann Leslie, who has died aged 82, telling me that. We were somewhere in Soho in a fug of cigarettes; later we ended up in a leather bar. Ann said she would fit in fine there, as her “Hendon flash” took her everywhere.
Another one gone. It's a bitl worrying She was fierce, frightening and enytaining.. in print which is the only way I knew her of course..I shall listen to her on DIDs ..thanks Suzanne
I knew her and adored her too, for the reasons you evoke so vividly. She was a fearless reporter and a bottomless well of laughter. Thanks for this unimprovable tribute. x
Lovely tribute Suzanne. Thank you. I met her with you. We were all at some kind of 'do' somewhere in Marleybone. Went outside for a breath of fres........fags. She was everything I hoped she was. Can't often say that. Cheers Ann. mx
Seeing clever women with opinions expressing them brilliantly on telly was massively important when I was a girl growing up....and still is actually! She was fabulous. Thank you for this lovely tribute, highlighting her brilliance and sharing personal stories. LOVE THIS.
What a great tribute... she leapt out the screen at us. Someone who could have been, so easily, for you, a foe, on the other end of a right-left see-saw. The way you describe respect for her despite her being billed as an opposite, is a way of being, too many seem to have lost.
Whenever I saw her, she reminded me of my sister Janet - a cloistered Tory but I loved her as, at least, she meant it truthfully... She was 82 too and, despite living a safe life, never going near any physical danger, let alone a war zone, she fell down 6 concrete steps to a violent death. How ironic that Anne, in contrast died, I assume, a managed peaceful death - she deserved that eh?
I met her a few times during my book publicist days and, along with a very tangible/indomitable 'presence', she also had the most wonderful voice. I know it was most probably down to the prodigious amount of fags she consumed, but nevertheless, it was just magnificent.
What a wonderfully written tribute: exactly right. She sounded amazing. Not surprised you got on so well. I would have too. x
Thank you for sharing your experiences with this great journalist. Honesty and humor are a great combo, and it sounds like she had both in spades.
Another one gone. It's a bitl worrying She was fierce, frightening and enytaining.. in print which is the only way I knew her of course..I shall listen to her on DIDs ..thanks Suzanne
Always lovely to read fab women bigging up other fab women. Thank you!
I knew her and adored her too, for the reasons you evoke so vividly. She was a fearless reporter and a bottomless well of laughter. Thanks for this unimprovable tribute. x
Lovely tribute Suzanne. Thank you. I met her with you. We were all at some kind of 'do' somewhere in Marleybone. Went outside for a breath of fres........fags. She was everything I hoped she was. Can't often say that. Cheers Ann. mx
Superb. We have been losing altogether too many magnificent sisters lately.
(Please put me out of my misery: what on earth is a "Hendon Flash"?)
She was a legend.
To me she was both scary and compelling. I disagreed with her views sometimes, but was always interested in what she had to say x
Seeing clever women with opinions expressing them brilliantly on telly was massively important when I was a girl growing up....and still is actually! She was fabulous. Thank you for this lovely tribute, highlighting her brilliance and sharing personal stories. LOVE THIS.
Lovely tribute
What a great tribute... she leapt out the screen at us. Someone who could have been, so easily, for you, a foe, on the other end of a right-left see-saw. The way you describe respect for her despite her being billed as an opposite, is a way of being, too many seem to have lost.
Whenever I saw her, she reminded me of my sister Janet - a cloistered Tory but I loved her as, at least, she meant it truthfully... She was 82 too and, despite living a safe life, never going near any physical danger, let alone a war zone, she fell down 6 concrete steps to a violent death. How ironic that Anne, in contrast died, I assume, a managed peaceful death - she deserved that eh?
Thank you all and particularly lovely to hear from those who knew her. I do appreciate it. Suzanne
I met her a few times during my book publicist days and, along with a very tangible/indomitable 'presence', she also had the most wonderful voice. I know it was most probably down to the prodigious amount of fags she consumed, but nevertheless, it was just magnificent.