COVER STORY Robin Mills met Bunty Powell at Cerne Abbas
© Bunty Powell Photograph by Robin Mills
’I
was born in Epsom, Surrey in 1935, one of four children. My older sister June became a staff nurse at Kings College Hospital and married a doctor there, Dr John Jackson, who went on to set up a practice in Blandford, until his death about 10 years ago. Brother John took up farming, though he’s now retired, and my younger brother Timothy lives in Australia. When I was 15 I was taken very ill with a burst appendix, and developed pneumonia. My parents were called at 3am one night to be told that my chances of lasting the night were slim. I couldn’t understand why they’d come to see me in the middle of the night; it didn’t occur to me things were that serious. However, as one can see, I survived, although I was off school for a year resulting in my leaving at the age of 16. My father managed to get me a job as private secretary with two authors in Fleet Street. I found it a wonderful experience because it gave me both a taste for organising things, and eventually led me towards a singing career. One of the authors was a Lt Col Reginald Lester, who carried out all the publicity for The King George’s Fund for Sailors. In 1952 he put on two films at Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine March 2021 3
