Bruce Calvert
2007-07-13 03:15:45 UTC
http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/display.var.1535908.0.artists_friendship_with_hollywood_stars_daughter.php
Artist's friendship with Hollywood star's daughter
By David Watkinson
AN artist's drawings of her favourite movie scenes have resulted in her
striking up a close friendship with a legendary Hollywood comic's daughter.
Laurel and Hardy fan Lucy Southward, 21, from Baxenden, has just returned
from meeting Stan Laurel's only daughter, 79-year-old Lois Laurel Hawes, who
lives in Northridge, California.
She went all the way to the west coast of America to meet her in person and
show off her artwork and said that they got on so well that she hopes to
return soon.
As well as the meeting, the pair have also been speaking on the telephone
every day.
Lucy said: "It was the trip of a lifetime. From the day we got there until
the day we travelled home, my good friend Lois Laurel Hawes looked after us
and called us every day. She was almost motherly towards me.
"She greeted us with a hug and a kiss. She was so excited for us to be
there, as were we. I presented her with a few presents we'd brought over
from England.
"We spoke for many hours about our life in England and hers in America.
"She told me some funny stories and memories. She said she remembered
visiting the movie sets as a child and actually being scared of Oliver
Hardy.
"She's very ordinary and down-to-earth and likes talking about her family."
Stan Laurel was from Ulverston in Cumbria and he teamed up with Oliver Hardy
after emigrating to America to become one of the world's most successful
double acts in the 1920s and 30s with hits such as Way Out West and Sons Of
The Desert.
Lucy, who works in the King Street pub, in Accrington town centre, said that
as well as meeting Lois she also toured Hollywood, visiting some of the
scenes where many of the Laurel and Hardy films were shot.
She said she has always enjoyed watching old Laurel and Hardy movies with
her family and producing intricate pencil drawings of the comedy duo.
Her parents' home, in Coleridge Drive, Baxenden, is filled with dozens of
drawings of Laurel and Hardy and their comedy capers.
And Lucy's gift for capturing the essence of the characters so accurately
has resulted in her forming a close friendship with Lois.
She said: "I've always been into Laurel and Hardy. We all have as a family,
really.
"I'm a member of the Laurel and Hardy Society and often go on the fan
website chatting to other fans through the forums.
"About a year ago I was talking to a fellow who was in contact with Lois and
he gave me the idea of sending some drawings to her.
"Through him I posted her a picture of her father drawn in graphite pencil.
"And about a fortnight later I got a card saying she liked my drawings and
asking for my phone number so she could call me.
"I was so excited I was jumping up and down. I couldn't believe she'd got
back to me so quickly and actually wanted to speak to me."
Lucy admits she never thought her interest in drawing would lead to such an
unusual friendship with the daughter of one of her all-time heroes.
"It is very rare I suppose," she said.
"It keeps me drawing because I know someone appreciates my work. She's the
last link to Stan Laurel and it's great that someone who is linked to him is
seeing and enjoying my drawings."
10:40am Wednesday 11th July 2007
--
Bruce Calvert
--
Visit the Silent Film Still Archive
http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com
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Artist's friendship with Hollywood star's daughter
By David Watkinson
AN artist's drawings of her favourite movie scenes have resulted in her
striking up a close friendship with a legendary Hollywood comic's daughter.
Laurel and Hardy fan Lucy Southward, 21, from Baxenden, has just returned
from meeting Stan Laurel's only daughter, 79-year-old Lois Laurel Hawes, who
lives in Northridge, California.
She went all the way to the west coast of America to meet her in person and
show off her artwork and said that they got on so well that she hopes to
return soon.
As well as the meeting, the pair have also been speaking on the telephone
every day.
Lucy said: "It was the trip of a lifetime. From the day we got there until
the day we travelled home, my good friend Lois Laurel Hawes looked after us
and called us every day. She was almost motherly towards me.
"She greeted us with a hug and a kiss. She was so excited for us to be
there, as were we. I presented her with a few presents we'd brought over
from England.
"We spoke for many hours about our life in England and hers in America.
"She told me some funny stories and memories. She said she remembered
visiting the movie sets as a child and actually being scared of Oliver
Hardy.
"She's very ordinary and down-to-earth and likes talking about her family."
Stan Laurel was from Ulverston in Cumbria and he teamed up with Oliver Hardy
after emigrating to America to become one of the world's most successful
double acts in the 1920s and 30s with hits such as Way Out West and Sons Of
The Desert.
Lucy, who works in the King Street pub, in Accrington town centre, said that
as well as meeting Lois she also toured Hollywood, visiting some of the
scenes where many of the Laurel and Hardy films were shot.
She said she has always enjoyed watching old Laurel and Hardy movies with
her family and producing intricate pencil drawings of the comedy duo.
Her parents' home, in Coleridge Drive, Baxenden, is filled with dozens of
drawings of Laurel and Hardy and their comedy capers.
And Lucy's gift for capturing the essence of the characters so accurately
has resulted in her forming a close friendship with Lois.
She said: "I've always been into Laurel and Hardy. We all have as a family,
really.
"I'm a member of the Laurel and Hardy Society and often go on the fan
website chatting to other fans through the forums.
"About a year ago I was talking to a fellow who was in contact with Lois and
he gave me the idea of sending some drawings to her.
"Through him I posted her a picture of her father drawn in graphite pencil.
"And about a fortnight later I got a card saying she liked my drawings and
asking for my phone number so she could call me.
"I was so excited I was jumping up and down. I couldn't believe she'd got
back to me so quickly and actually wanted to speak to me."
Lucy admits she never thought her interest in drawing would lead to such an
unusual friendship with the daughter of one of her all-time heroes.
"It is very rare I suppose," she said.
"It keeps me drawing because I know someone appreciates my work. She's the
last link to Stan Laurel and it's great that someone who is linked to him is
seeing and enjoying my drawings."
10:40am Wednesday 11th July 2007
--
Bruce Calvert
--
Visit the Silent Film Still Archive
http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com
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K1TE&.#EA`0`!`( !`````/___R'Y! $```$`+ `````!``$```("3 $`.P``
`
end
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`
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