how dispiriting to find

the Actors’ Benevolent Fund, no less, recently the subject of embarrassing headlines courtesy of a financial bust-up. Naturally one’s own allegiance must remain with long-time charity president Dame Penelope Keith, whose ongoing efforts to add trademark decorum in the face of chaotic proceedings must be applauded. With Penelope’s adversary in this sorry affair, the over-promoted Mr Ellicott, having since left the post of general secretary, we can only hope they’re back on an even keel soon enough. Having observed many an ailing player being propped up by the Benevolent Fund down the decades, it’d be the cruellest of ironies to find the organisation going to the dogs just as the autumn of one’s own career reaches crisis point!