Born within the sound of Bow Bells, Eileen became a Ricardian in 1955 after reading Historical Whodunits by Hugh Ross Williams, and she was one of the earliest members of the Sydney Branch around 1981 when the group met in committee members’ houses.

Eileen performing a sketch (photo by I Martyn)

She had a tremendous sense of fun and 1983 saw the first comic sketch that we did together at the Commemoration Banquet in the Sydney School of Arts with Eileen Junoesque and magnificent in a long wine red velvet mantle and black hat. Other sketches and songs followed through the eighties and nineties including a forty-five minute off-schedule entertainment at the Australian and New Zealand Medieval and Renaissance Conference in Hobart, and a special performance of the ‘Oh no, Thomas More’ song for Professor Tony Pollard.

One of her most memorable roles was a party political broadcast as Boudicca sporting a pudding basin with horns, and carrying a spear. Oh yes, and a yellow wig as well! She also did a political speech as Lady Margaret Beaufort imitating the UK Prime Minister of the time with a Thatcheresque breathy voice. She very much enjoyed being part of Ye Kynge’s Syngers and she was also an eager participant in scenes from Shakespeare and other playwrights, organised by our actor member, the later Peter Ryan, with some of his fellow players.

Besides King Richard, Eileen’s other great passion was enjoying Shakespeare plays.

Despite being badly afflicted by rheumatoid arthritis in her hands and feet, and with responsibility every weekend for her Down Syndrome daughter, she nevertheless never let it stop her from attending meetings and dressing up for the medieval cabarets. Recently, she was delighted to know that some of the songs and sketches were still being used from time to time.

Eileen was 87 when she died at the retirement home on 9 November.

Tags: NSW Branch