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John Barry’s wife,
Laurie, introduced herself in turn to the handful of people
attending the rehearsal, which gave me the opportunity to thank her
for allowing me to attend what was a very special afternoon. Laurie
protects her husband and family formidably, like a tigress guards
her cubs. It would appear that everything in JB’s professional life
is approved by Laurie before anyone gets close to the man himself.
Having nearly lost him to a life-threatening illness during the late
eighties it is understandable why this very special man would be
protected so fiercely by his adoring and loyal wife.
Once JB had run
through the pieces he would be conducting during the concert in the
evening, he left the auditorium together with his wife and other
members of his family to be photographed exclusively by Mark Mawston.
Then conductor Nicholas Dodd took over the podium to energetically
put the orchestra through a feisty performance of the rest of the
evening to come’s programme. I then had the wonderful experience of
sitting completely alone in the Royal Festival Hall while listening
to Zulu, Dances With Wolves (suite), ‘This Way Mary’ (from
Mary, Queen of Scots), Body Heat, All Time High, Chaplin,
‘The Girl With The Sun In Her Hair’, The Persuaders, Midnight
Cowboy, Walkabout, Born Free, Space March (from You Only Live
Twice), Out of Africa, and The James Bond suite: ‘The
James Bond Theme’, From Russia With Love, Thunderball, You Only
Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and Diamonds Are
Forever.
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