On stage at Pentameters
Godfrey Old died on the afternoon of Saturday 25th April.
Only the night before, he was entertaining us with his band at the King William IV, Hampstead High Street.
He joined hands with Léonie Scott-Matthews, to their great joy, over 40 years ago at Pentameters Theatre. It was a stunning bohemian fringe theatre, open since 1968, for many musical and theatrical performances. Their Sunday night ‘salon’, Moon At Night, was an open mike where anyone and everyone could show their talents. Curated by Léonie, Godfrey provided an amazing musical accompaniment to singers, bands, and poets. He drew and designed hundreds of posters to advertise their theatrical shows, with an anarchic artistic talent like cartoonist Robert Crumb. Recently, recovering from heart surgery, Godfrey and Léonie produced 150+ Dunking Doodles, picturing many aspects of their lives. Around 100 of these have been published in International Times.
Léonie is still continuing the Pentameters ‘salon’ every Wednesday 10.30 am to 1.30 pm at Monro House Community Centre, off Perrins Lane, Hampstead.
Godfrey was a great character, defining and supporting the artistic life of North London and Hampstead. Friends and family will miss his fine intellect, his stories, beautiful illustrations, his music and his gentle support of so many of us. We hope that all his friends will support Léonie and his daughter Alice as they grieve such a loved partner and father.
Lost and Found
Godfrey 40 years ago
Godfrey was always there, the band, Mad Dog Bites
He added to every song with magic mystery reveals
Harmonicas, jews harp, electronic wizard delights
At William IV, Pentameters, Parliament Hill Fields
When we were lost, distracted, our words gone astray
He had a tenderness, a self-effacing lesson for us all
Brought us back, his music remembered every day
And Dunking Doodles, his life with Leonie did recall
Their devotion to each other, showed us we’re all dear
The place they shared let us entertain for so many years
Blessings like no other, our hearts opened wide out here
We’re together in this salon, grateful for him in our tears
Lost without him, lessons of his gentle soul carry on
Remembered, listened to, a time to make us strong
Christopher
Devoted to each other
At Buckingham Palace
Music, Poetry, Stories. Photo: Godfrey & Léonie reciting a Dunking Doodles story in Hampstead at the community hall at the rear of Monro House , Perrins Lane.
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