Our Betty

And so, farewell then, Betty Boothroyd - the formidable first female Speaker of the House of Commons, whose fearless defence of the rules and sovereignty of Parliament led her to slap down anyone who contravened its protocols, whether they be backbench MPs, ministers or even Tony Blair.

We could do with more like her today, but sadly I doubt there'll ever be another Betty...

Facts:

• At the age of 17 she successfully auditioned for the Tiller Girls high-kicking dance troupe, but her stage career didn't last long so (obviously) she went into politics.
• She unsuccessfully contested four seats - and was not selected as a candidate to stand at several others (and often joked that she should have had a place in the Guinness Book of Records) - before finally becoming an MP in 1973.
• When she got elected to the role there was no outfit for a female Speaker, so she had to design it herself.
• In her 60s, she took up paragliding while on holiday in Cyprus; she described the hobby as both "lovely and peaceful" and "exhilarating".
• Just last year, a musical based upon her life, co-written by and starring Maxine Peake, appeared at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester [I do hope they revive it and bring it to London!].

RIP, Baroness Betty Boothroyd (8th October 1929 – 26th February 2023)

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On the Jukebox this Weekend at Dolores Delargo Towers

The High Priestess

The High Priestess of Soul would have been 90 years old today.

All hail.

Nina Simone - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Live 1968)

Nina Simone (born Eunice Kathleen Waymon, 21st February 1933 – 21st April 2003)

[More Nina]

Such are queens

Considered one of the most popular and well-known in the world after that of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife offers festivities that include the election of the carnival queen, street parties, parades, costumes and drag queen contests.

The queen of the carnival election gala is so popular that it is broadcast not only on national TV but internationally too.

[Click any photo to enlarge. More photos, photo credits and descriptions at The Guardian website]

This weekend, I am mostly dressing casual...

...like today's birthday girl (she's 90 years old, you know), Yoko Ono!

We always suited the hat-and-sunglasses look...

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The Bombshell departs

RIP, the utterly stunning Raquel Welch (born Jo Raquel Tejada, 5th September 1940 - 15th February 2023)

Such a sad loss.

[More Raquel here, here, here, and here.]

A fabulous Dickie

From Vintage Everyday:

These photos belonged to an Englishman by the name of Richard Colley, known as 'Dick' or 'Dickie' to his many friends. Most of photos are dated from 1922 to 1925, some others are dated 1932 and 1933.

Richard Colley enjoyed a privileged lifestyle of holidays, afternoon parties, receptions and costumed balls, interspersed with trips to the races and to the theatre. Many of his friends in the album are unidentified, but it is clear that he knew Dorothy Gish, Gaby Deslys, Harry Pilcer, Beatrice de Bourbon, and the former Queen of Italy.

It is possible that he himself enjoyed a brief career as a dancer or in silent films.

He evidently loved dressing-up!

Fab-u-lous, indeed!

A perfect example of why LGBT History Month is so important.

“To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?” – Cicero

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Heavy Metal

RIP Francisco “Paco” Rabaneda Cuervo, better known as Paco Rabanne, architect and metal-sculptor-turned avant-garde couturier, who has departed to add his kooky Barbarella touch to Fabulon...