Site Admin, Author at The Club for Acts and Actors

Chairman’s Letter – July 2018

1st August 20181st August 2018 by Site Admin

Hello everyone. I hope you are enjoying the gorgeous weather!

I am honoured that the Committee have elected me your Chairman once again. You know that I will work 100% plus for you, the members and the club as a whole. I joined this wonderful club in 1979 when I was ‘starting out’ in showbusiness, so you realise why it means so much to me!

We’re having another good year. The new tenants on the 4th floor are happily settled in and have added BT fibre, which we will be able to use once we are technically re-organised. This re-organisation is happening too slowly for us. We are awaiting Raffingers report on exactly everything that we need. Then we can put things into motion! We have chosen three architects to come and view the Hall/Kitchen Reception area etc, with a view to total refurbishment of areas in the hope of installing a viable lift up to the bar. Many of you who have difficulty with mobility are now taking advantage of the taxi rides we are offering you. Please contact me if you require one.

Some of you have been asking about opening on Saturday, as you are in town shopping or at a show and it would be nice to pop into the club on an evening to have a drink. So, we are going to experiment with opening on the LAST Saturday of every month from 5pm to 11.30pm. Starting from Saturday 29th September. This will be expensive in wages etc, so we will ask for a £5 admission donation from each guest as we have great value drinks in the bar. (Members are obviously free as usual.)

Thank you for your support at our Social Functions. We have some great ones coming up and we hope to have a couple of afternoon ones in the September to December season. So, look out for those on the notice board and web site. I will also phone around our ‘regulars’ if anything ’comes up.’

Have a wonderful summer break, a successful autumn season and keep smiling!!

Much love to you all.

Kay (Your Chairman)

P.S. I am thrilled to tell you that we now have “THE CAA ROOM” at Brinsworth House, The Royal Variety Charity Home in Twickenham. Many of our members go there for respite and indeed we have one member at the moment who is a permanent resident. So thank you all at the AGM for agreeing to our donation for this new en suite room. We will also help with its maintenance. It is a lovely large room on the first floor, overlooking a beautiful Lilac tree. We took the money for the room from our Samaritan Fund because it is for the benefit of ALL of our members.

Thank you all, once again – Much Love, Kay xxx

Saturdays at The CAA!

8th May 202431st July 2018 by Site Admin

UPDATED 8th May 2024…

This page has been updated a number of times with the latest information before any change although recently overlooked for a while. Any significant changes will AGAIN show on this post before they are scheduled to take effect…

A good number of members had suggested that they would appreciate the club being open on Saturday evenings.

Many attend Saturday matinees or evening performances in town and would like to drop in for a drink, either after or before shows. In response to these requests the committee decided to give it a trial initially with a once a month Saturday opening. Post Pandemic this became a permanent weekly feature.

The bar is open to members and their guests from 5.30pm to 1am (last orders 12.40am)

Extra staff costs are involved and to offset this we will be asking for a £5 admission fee for guests (obviously members are free.)

With our great value for money bar we are sure that £5 will prove a good investment for your friends!

Winifred Atwell ~ A Request

31st July 201830th July 2018 by Site Admin

Charlie Cairoli ~ A Request

31st July 201830th July 2018 by Site Admin

Hi, my name is Nigel Male and I own and run the Charlie Cairoli appreciation society, we were set up in 1994 to perpetuate the memory of the late great Charlie Cairoli.

The last 26 years, I have been researching the life and career of Charlie. It has always been a dream to produce a book, to document this. Finally the dream is coming to fruition. The book is set to be published in spring 2020.

Could I kindly ask if any of your members knew Charlie or ever worked with him? I am very keen to speak to anyone who is happy to share their memories.

Contact is [email protected]

Newsletter November 2017

13th August 201913th November 2017 by Site Admin

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Hello Everyone

Hope you had a good summer! Working or relaxing!

During the 3-week closure, our workmen have been very busy, completely gutting the Ladies Toilets and Dressing Room and the Gentlemen’s Dressing Room. Thus, giving us a whole bright new “look”. Very theatrical!! (I wanted us to have theatre styled Dressing Rooms!) All expensive but worth it!! I hope you agree. My special thanks to Deputy Chair, Judith Quiney for all her help and Ron and Malcolm.

The German firm who were tenants in the 4th floor office suite unfortunately left us earlier this year. This gave us the opportunity to refurbish that area in the hope that we can attract a new tenant in this competitive market. Our Property agent has had viewings from prospective firms but so far, no letting of the space.

Another of the new Social Events for this year, the play reading of “Separate Tables”, in August, was a huge success. Thanks to our member Hugh Futcher. I bought 4 small red tables to use that night and they looked so good we have bought another eight to use on Jazz and Cabaret evenings to give the hall a new, intimate look.

The Annual Ball will take place on Sunday March 18th. Once again at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington High Street. Sparkling reception at 5.00 p.m. Dinner at 6.00 p.m. and Carriages at 11.15 p.m. We have a wonderful Cabaret, Dancing to a live band and Disco section. A truly fun, happy evening. So why not bring your friends and book a whole table. Members £60, Guests £70.

The Website is up and running now so take a look at it at www.thecaa.org If you have any news then let us know and we can have a rolling page for members news. All the contact details are on there. Our thanks to Paul Scudder for setting it up and Chris Hare for editing.

Just a reminder about the Taxi rides on offer to our less mobile members who want to visit the club. 3 or 4 of you have already made use of it. So, don’t be shy! We would love to see you back at the club. You have all contributed so much over the years. Just contact myself or Malcolm. Also, if you know of any member who may need help or care please let any of the Committee know, because we have the Samaritan and Benevolent funds to help you. Sadly, we have lost 4 of our long-standing members recently. 50 years some of them have been ‘A’ performing members. We are looking at ways to help, so watch this space!

I cannot believe it but Christmas season will soon be upon us, when many of our members are appearing in Pantomimes, Christmas Shows, Plays, Concerts and Cabarets. Also, our members who are technical and Front of House staff. We are all ‘cogs’ in the huge wheel of Showbusiness. We will also be distributing our Christmas Hampers in December. Hoping to surprise and brighten up some of our members.I wish all of you a very Happy and Successful Festive Season.

Love Kay x

C.A.A. ANNUAL BALL

SUNDAY 18TH MARCH 2018

5.00 p.m. Sparkling Reception for 6.00 p.m. Dinner

THE CAA EVENT FOR THE YEAR 2018

ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL, KENSINGTON.

Special Cabaret, Band and wonderful food.

MEMBERS £60.00, GUESTS £70.00

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM CAA OFFICE.

Don’t leave it too long to book. It is going to be a great evening.

NOMINATIONS FOR GENERAL COMMITTEE 2018/2019

If you would like to serve on the General Committee for the year 2018/2019 and have paid two full years’ subscriptions, please collect a Nomination Form from the office. Completed forms must be signed by a proposer and seconder and returned before 1st February 2018. To be eligible for election, nominees must have paid their subscription for 2018. Nominees are invited to write a brief statement (50 words maximum) in support of their nomination for Committee and these must be sent to the office at the same time as the Nomination Forms in order to get them printed in time to go out with the AGM papers at the beginning of March.

The following members have “taken their final curtain” since the last Newsletter. They are: –

John Dalby ‘A’ July

Yvonne Bouffler ‘A’ July

Audrey Maye ‘A’ September

Joy Francois ‘A’ September

Marty Swift ‘A’ July

Avril Ellis ‘A’ August

Johnny Maxim ‘A’ July

CHRISTMAS CLOSING & OPENING DATES

The club will close for Christmas after trading on Thursday 21st December 2017 Re-Opening after the festivities on Wednesday3rd January 2018

Put the dates in your diary, so as not to be disappointed

STOP PRESS – FORTHCOMING CAA EVENT

FRIDAY 20TH APRIL 2018 – “A NIGHT WITH THE STARS”

Come along and remember your favourite stars, Doris Day, Judy Garland, Mario Lanza, Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Gracie Fields, Matt Monroe,Howard Keel, Deanna Durbin, Elvis Presley and many more.Sing along, dance along and enjoy a nostalgic night

3 Course Meal – 7.00 for 7.15 p.m. – Members: £20, Guests: £23

SUBSCRIPTIONS, CHRISTMAS DRAW, 100 CLUB,CHRISTMAS CARDS ETC.

Please make all cheques payable to “The Concert Artistes’ Association”. You may pay your subscription and Christmas Draw on the same cheque but please write separate cheques for the 100 Club, Annual Ball and all other payments.

Please do not staple cheques to forms or send post-dated cheques.

We would prefer monies to be sent as there is less risk of them being unrecorded, but, if you really cannot trust the post, please come and see us before the office closes at 5-00 p.m. Please do not bring your money in loose. Always put it in a clearly labelled envelope (a recycled one will suffice) together with the relevant form or slip carefully completed. Then, if you arrive out of office hours, you can post ready prepared envelopes through the office letterbox to be dealt with the following morning.

NEWS OF MEMBERS

Kay Carman – is appearing in “Down Memory Lane” Queen’s Theatre Foyer Show on Wednesday 1st November at 2.30 p.m. and in Mickie Driver’s Christmas Party Show at Westcliff-on-Sea and Wood Green from Monday 20th November until Friday 15th December. Also, the January Music Hall Show at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.

Valerie Leon – “Upfront with Valerie Leon” will be at Live at Zedal, 20 Sherwood Street, Soho on Thursday 9th November at 7.00 p.m. With the help of little more than a magnum of champagne, Valerie takes you through her life both on and off the screen.

Martin Milnes – in June appeared at “West End Live” with his musical partner Dominic Ferris. Martin & Dominic went on to appear at the Lincoln Centre Rose Theatre in New York on 17th October.

Martin Wimbush – Martin has just finished appearing in his one-man show “A Meeting of Minds” at the Canterbury Festival with further venues to be considered.

CHRISTMAS DRAW

Our Christmas draw raises funds for the Club and gives you, the members, the chance of winning extra goodies for Christmas. At only £1 a ticket or £5 for the book of tickets, you have a good chance of winning our first prize of £300 in cash, or other desirable treats and gifts.

MONDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2017

1st Prize: £300 cash

2nd Prize: £150 cash

3rd Prize: £100 of Theatre Vouchers

4th Prize: £50 of Marks & Spencer Vouchers

Plus 50 other prizes of wines, spirits, gifts etc.

One book containing 5 tickets is enclosed with your Newsletter and extra books are available from the office. Please send counterfoils and cheques made payable to the Concert Artistes’ Association (which can include your subscription) to arrive by 6.00 p.m. on the 18th December 2017.

VAL PETT