On one of the hottest nights in late June Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and Dan Stephens met some 50 members of the NCS at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. After a memorable perfomance members gathered in a pleasant bar area several flights down into the depths of the theatre and dabbed their glowing foreheads whilst sipping crisply chilled white wine and cordials when Dame Judi gathered herself and received some of the star guests in her dressing room. Stephen Fry escorted her to meet us and following our congratulations and the presentation of flowers and a copy oif 'The Unknown Noël' (also presentd to Stepehn Fry) she talked, and signed programmes, books and photographs for members. Despite the heat andthe fact she had just been through a theatre performance she gave unstintingly of her time and talked to everyone who approached her.

This was a very open occasion where everyone felt able to meet and greet one of our most loved thespians.

Thank you Dame Judi.