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Prunella Scales

(34 Posts)
TAB12 Sun 30-Mar-14 12:31:43

I have been watching Great Canal Journeys with Prunella Scales and her Husband. It was pleasant to watch and I was enjoying it until Prunella told the story of her evacuation in the War to the country side.

She expalined that she and her family were evacuated to Devon, however not in the usual manner were by just the children went, all of her family rented a Cottage in Devon, It opened my eyes some what as to how the other half live, so to speak.

But what really upset me and must say turned my stamach was when she said that when children from East London were evacuated to the same school that she attended, her Mother decided to take her out of the school and teach her and her brother at home rather than mix with the East London children.

I found that very difficult to listen to, as these children were innocent and caught up in the dreadful war as they themselves were, and to think of them as un-desirable's almost made my cry. I am so glad that that type of snobbery does not exists as much in modern times, as in my opinion it is disgraceful to say the very least.

Apart from all of that, it did spoil my great enjoyment of the programme.

feetlebaum Mon 31-Mar-14 09:05:53

I would rather listen to 'posh' (detestable word!) than Estuary, any day...

Anniebach Mon 31-Mar-14 09:23:13

Is it not possible the London children swore etc? And I don't think we are any different now, we still have class and race divide .

rosequartz Mon 31-Mar-14 09:37:21

Quite funny to be accused of 'inverted snobbery' as I am more 'Prunella' than Eastenders. And I do have a Prunella tendency to talk in other accents. She was taking off the teacher's accent rather than saying the children were undesirable, in a somewhat mocking way I thought.
Now I am wondering if I do the same!
Not really worth bothering about, I was just agreeing that the original OP may have had a point and was trying to support them when everyone pitched in against him/her.

annodomini Mon 31-Mar-14 10:04:03

She had a wonderfully 'pseud' accent as Sybil Fawlty!

DebnCreme Mon 31-Mar-14 10:49:42

Perhaps one day we will meet absent and I should be interested to hear what you think of my 'accent'. smile

penguinpaperback Mon 31-Mar-14 11:15:22

I've enjoyed the programmes. I thought Prunella was just remembering her Mother, imitating her Mother's voice and her Mother's thoughts and nothing more.
The Daily Mail, I think, captured her confusion when they carried out this interview with Prunella and Richard Briers. I think it was unkind and I even wondered if the article had lead to Timothy West now feeling he has to share, explain so much of his wife's illness.

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2271496/Richard-Briers-battling-chronic-lung-disease--lifelong-friend-Prunella-Scales-shocking-confession-own.html

Ana Mon 31-Mar-14 11:48:24

Probably not, as the DM article is over a year old, and Timothy Weston only spoke out about his wife's Alzheimers diagnosis earlier this year.

FlicketyB Mon 31-Mar-14 15:50:58

Why can we not simply accept that 'the past is another country, they do things differently there.'