If you want to act in movies - wear a hat.

'The Old Curiosity Shop' produced by Disney

We are not quite sure how she does it, but if a movie is being made Mum will make way to appear in it.

'The Invisible Woman' directed by Ralph Fiennnes

She is always being a Victorian lady. Just little roles.

'Feast of July' directed by Chris Menaul for Merchant Ivory

She loves dressing up, no matter how uncomfortable the corset or wig might be.

.

'Amazing Grace' about Wilberforce, directed by Michael Apted

See if you can name the films. This starred Dan Stevens and Dominic Cooper:

This one was made a while ago but it's a classic:

Angelica Huston and Daphne Neville in 'Buffalo Girls'

Hover over the images for the answers. 

But you'll have to tell me what this one was. I have no idea.

Mum appears directly after the blue title credits in the official trailer of 'The Invisible Woman' here:

Daphne's adventures acting in television

Readers of Funnily Enough often ask after my mother - worried that she might be offended by some of the stories recorded in my diary. What they do not know if that she actually asked if I could put a picture of her looking absurd on the front cover.

Mum used to make an effort to look pretty. She started working as a television presenter in about 1969 and was with HTV for years, reading the local news and presenting a children's programme called 'It's Time For Me', 'Women Only' with Jan Leeming and appearing on Christmas Specials.
At the same time, she worked for BBC Radio Bristol presenting a sports programme called 'Come Alive' and reading letters on 'Any Answers' before there were phone-ins.

Here she is interviewing the artist Kit Williams at the time he bought out his book Masquerade and sent all of England on a treasure hunt, looking for a golden hare.

By 1980 Mum was working as a continuity announcer for Border Television. We nearly moved up to the Lake District. I found this clip of her appearing on Grampian TV a few years later ~

Whilst in-vision announcers disappeared from television screens in the 1980s Mum did not. She began gaining small parts in period dramas, many of which were filmed on location in the West Country.

Appearing in 'Miss Marple' with Joan Hickson

She has always thrived in front of the camera, whatever the weather -

Daphne Neville with Diana Dors in 'The Two Ronnies' for BBC TV

readily admitting that she loves dressing up and grabbing any chance to appear in costume.

Daphne Neville in 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'

What she is not so keen on is wearing fur coats.

On location with Cheryl Campbell in 'Rain on the Roof'

She hates the idea of animals suffering for fashion,

As Lady Kroesig, mother to Anthony Head in 'Love in a Cold Climate'

but is happy to comply with the costume designer's wishes. Here she is playing Lady Kroesig, mother to Anthony Head in the LWT adaptation of Nancy Mitford's novel Love in a Cold Climate, in which her daughter Tamzin played the young Linda.


To see more photographs of Mum in action, click here!

The diary I kept when I was recovering from CFS - serialised in iBelieve magazine

Kim Alexis is on the front cover of this month's issue of iBelieve. 

My story continues inside.

Please click here for subscription details.

Otters and other things at Lee Valley

Our tame otters currently are at Hackeny Marshes in the Lee Valley in North London. They are taking part in Countryside Live, an event that introduces inner city children to rural life.

I tell the children that the otter's favorite food is the eel. In catching these they help protect fish stocks. Did you know this? Eel are notorious for feasting on fish fry. Old Father Thames, who is depicted here with eels peeping out of his beard has been brought up to the River Lee by the Worshipful Company of Drapers. He sits on the stern of the Drapers' Barge, the Royal Thamesis, which you might have seen taking part in the Royal Jubilee Pageant last year when she was number three in the procession.  

On Thursday 26th and Friday 27th September the crew of the Drapers' Barge will be at Lee Valley, teaching primary school children how to row. In past years we found that it was the first time that most of them had ever been in a boat. We were able to tell the enthusiastic that there are opportunities to join the Sea Scouts or canoe clubs on the River Lee.

I always enjoy meeting the bat men who exhibit at Countryside Live. They literally introduce you to different species of bats. The fascinating pigeon fanciers explain how vital homing pigeons were during WWI, there are falconry displays, ferret racing and gigantic heavy horses.

However it is the sheep who captivate large audiences. Here you can see Belinda being introduced to her admiring public.

What struck me most about Countryside Live is that money is not involved. There is nothing to buy. No one asks for cash - and yet there is so much to do and see. The children leave laden with corn dollies they have made or useful things they have constructed out of withies.

At the end of the day the Drapers have a tradition of rowing pensioners form the Tottenham Almshouses up the river. Some have been known to take an oar themselves although these ladies were happy to be taken for a ride.

To learn about the work of Countryside Live, please click here

For information about events at Lee Valley please click here

Countryside Live run a silent art auction - do have a look at the auction held in July 2013 by clicking here

The Otters are in Hampshire

Our tame otters Belinda and Rudi were at the Romsey Show at Broadlands in Hampshire on Saturday 14th September when they were interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire.

Last weekend, on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September, they are appearing at the Royal County of Berkshire Country Show 2013 near Newbury where entertainment for all ages is promised.

For more information about the otters's engagements please click here.

More stores of Mum and her tame otters

It was another hot summer, 22 years ago - and Mum and the otters were still keeping me entertained during my recovery from CFS ~

You can subscribe to the iBelieve print magazine at www.newlifepublishing.co.uk

This month's cover story features former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice ~

Memories of my sister's wedding, in the August issue of iBelieve ~

The International Rubery Book Award-winning read, featured in iBelieve magazine, August 2013

The cover of iBelieve magazine, August 2013 - to subscribe or order, click here

'Funnily Enough' - now an Award-winning book by Sophie Neville