SPEAKER .... COMEDIENNE .... COMPERE .... ENTERTAINER
SCROLL DOWN TO DISCOVER MORE
LADY CRABTREE AT FAIRLIGHT HALL (July 2019) and ROYAL EASTBOURNE GOLF CLUB (May 2019)
THE DOWAGER LADY CRABTREE has been entertaining
audiences since April 1978
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The doyenne of ladies' clubs and Women's Institutes, Lady Crabtree is ideally suited to the more mature audience


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IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SPEAKER OR ENTERTAINER,
LADY CRABTREE CAN BE BOOKED TO:
* RAISE A LAUGH AT YOUR WI, CLUB, GROUP or SOCIETY WITH ONE OF HER AMUSING TALKS. There are currently FIVE to choose from:
1. "HOW TO GROW OLD DISGRACEFULLY "
Lady C reveals that the advancing years are to be enjoyed rather than endured.
Anyone over the age of 50 will be able to identify with many of her wry observations!
"I don't think we have ever had someone who made us laugh so much. The ladies had a wonderful time."
Gill Bird, Cardiff Ladies' Lunch Club
"The peals of laughter and the attention of the audience confirmed her huge success...an afternoon to savour."
CommunityWise Ladies Club, Eastbourne
"So many people came up to me afterwards to say how much they had enjoyed your talk... a good laugh keeps you young!"
Valerie Winstone, Stratford-upon-Avon Ladies' Lunch Club
"Many thanks for the simply fantastic entertainment you gave us.
We have had so many comments on how much everyone enjoyed your talk."
Lioness Conference, Maidstone
"I am already being bombarded with requests for a return visit!" Pat Allen, Gables Court
"I haven't laughed so much for a long time!" Jane Craig, Castle Group WI, Ringmer
"An outstanding presentation...the best we've had throughout our large District this year....absolutely excellent."
Philip Leng, Oddfellows Friendly Society, Bexhill
"A big thank you for a cracking evening, Lady Crabtree was fabulous! I've heard loads of terrific comments from folk
that were there... We definitely want her back again!" Alison Attwood, Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club
"Amongst the comments I received as our members made ready to leave were 'amazing' and 'the best speaker ever',
which of course delighted our committee." Beryl Bodey, Catsfield WI
"Having the ability to establish such a great rapport with your audience is obviously second nature to you.
It was clear you enjoyed entertaining us just as much as we enjoyed being entertained by you."
Wendy Jones, Willingdon Flower Club
"I have never heard a U3A audience laugh so much in all the years I have been organising events.
Everybody left feeling far better than when they arrived. That is a sign of
a very successful, highly executed performance." Gary Cooper, Horsham & District U3A
2. "THE DOWAGER ENTERTAINS"
Lady C gives a jocular account of her life and work, with the occasional comic monologue
thrown in for good measure. From her early days in the theatre to becoming a society hostess;
from her career in the Royal Household to her public life today... it has truly been a life of variety.
"An hour of almost non-stop laughter!" Friends of the Devonshire Park Theatre
"Many thanks for such an entertaining afternoon - we haven't laughed so much for ages."
Russ Fry, West Chiltington Theatre Arts Club
3. "GREAT SOCIETY HOSTESSES"
A light-hearted but informative talk, in which Lady Crabtree speaks about some of her favourite Society Hostesses and their extravagant lifestyles.
"She enthralled us this time and so many members have asked if she can come back again to give another of her talks." Royal National Lifeboat Institute
4. "GLAD TO BE GREY"
Lady C's sequel to "How To Grow Old Disgracefully" .... another celebration of maturity and the many
advantages of getting older.
"Another great performance... I felt exhausted with laughter." Derek Mepham, Langham Hotel Lunch Club, Eastbourne
5. "WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CHRISTMAS?"
**FOR NOVEMBER - DECEMBER EVENTS**
6. "CIS - The Life & Work of Dame Cicely Courtneidge"
**In development.....only suitable for audiences that remember Cis Courtneidge (1893-1980)**


Eastbourne Herald 13th December 2013 LADY CRABTREE
* SHE CAN MAKE A TAILOR-MADE, WITTY SPEECH AT YOUR EVENT OR SPEAK AT A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
* OPEN FETES and FAIRS ..... PRESENT PRIZES or AWARDS ...... or CUT A RIBBON AT YOUR OPENING CEREMONY.....and will always draw the raffle!
* ACT AS HOSTESS or COMPERE FOR CHARITY EVENTS or CORPORATE FUNCTIONS

Eastbourne Herald, 19th Sept 2014
ADD A TOUCH OF COMIC CLASS TO YOUR EVENT
EMAIL TODAY WITH YOUR REQUIREMENTS
AND DISCOVER THE POSSIBILITIES
connie@ladycrabtree.co.uk
LET THE FUN BEGIN !
PHOTOS FROM A FEW RECENT APPEARANCES:
Sainsbury's Veterans Association, Bexhill - June 2022

Hellingly WI - June 2022

Platinum Jubilee Celebrations - June 2022

Crawley U3A - May 2022

Edenbridge Active Retirement Association - May 2022

Mannings Heath WI - May 2022

Darby & Joan Club, Crowborough - April 2022

Newhaven & Peacehaven U3A - April 2022

Hillborough House, Little Common April 2022

Horsham Weald Probus Club - March 2022

Photo (c) Karen Stafford
Patcham Flower Club - February 2022
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Chalk Farm Hotel, Willingdon - January 2022
A 90th birthday celebration

Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne - Boxing Day 2021

Denton Island Indoor Bowls Club - December 2021

Eastbourne Arts Circle - December 2021

with concert and opera singer Elizabeth Muir-Lewis
Brighton Five Deans U3A - December 2021

Association of Carers - December 2021

NHS Retirement Fellowship - November 2021

Harbour Friends, Eastbourne - November 2021

RASCALS, Pevensey Bay - November 2021
 
Heartsease, Seaford - October 2021

Firle & Beddingham WI - September 2021

Wadhurst WI, 100th Anniversary - September 2021

Scaynes Hill WI - September 2021

Sandhurst Friendship Club - September 2021

Steyning & District Flower Club - August 2021

Findon Village WI - August 2021

Polegate WI - August 2021

Rye Harbour Sailability - July 2021

Fairwarp WI Birthday Meeting - March 2020
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Holbrook Horsham WI Group Meeting - February 2020

Playden WI Birthday Meeting - February 2020

Colonel Stevens Court 25th Anniversary - February 2020


Probus Shelley Annual Lunch, Horsham - January 2020

Hailsham Nightingales WI - January 2020

National Trust, Horsham - January 2020

Waldron WI - January 2020

Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne - Boxing Day 2019

Arun East U3A - December 2019

Ferring Probus Club Lunch - December 2019

RAFA Lunch, Arundel - December 2019

Hailsham Rope Makers WI - December 2019

Crowborough Bereavement Support Group - December 2019

Crowborough U3A - December 2019

Willingdon Flower Club - December 2019

Association of Carers Christmas Lunch - December 2019

Kingscote WI, East Grinstead - November 2019

Lions 50th Anniversary Charter Lunch, Seaford - October 2019

Wealden Senior Citizens' Partnership - October 2019

90th Anniversary of the Townswomen's Guild - October 2019
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London & South East Region Trefoil Guild Annual Review - October 2019


Battle & District U3A - October 2019
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Forest Row WI - September 2019

Waffle Club, Rustington - September 2019

NARPO Hastings & District - August 2019

Blatchington Hill Townswomen's Guild - August 2019

Horam & Heathfield Flower Club - August 2019

Hands of Hope charity lunch - August 2019

Birthday/Anniversary Lunch, Arundel - July 2019

All Saints Monday Wives, Hastings - July 2019

Bexhill Seagirls WI - July 2019

ESFWI Centenary Garden Party, Fairlight Hall - July 2019
Southdown Strollers 20th Anniversary - July 2019
 
The Twenty-Ten Club - June 2019

Peacehaven & Telscombe Flower Club - June 2019

Edenbridge Active Retirement Association - June 2019

The Tangent Club, Horsted Place - June 2019


The Thursday Club, Sedlescombe - June 2019

Active Leisure Club, Little Common - May 2019

Heathfield U3A - May 2019

Royal Eastbourne Golf Club - May 2019

Sovereign Harbour Friends - April 2019

RASCALS Pevensey Bay - April 2019

Brighton Five Deans U3A - April 2019

Catsfield WI 1001st Birthday - April 2019

60th Wedding Anniversary Lunch - April 2019

70th Wedding Anniversary - April 2019

Chiddingly WI 100th Birthday Lunch - March 2019

Rother WI Group Meeting, Battle - March 2019

Waldron WI - March 2019

Rustington Flower Club - February 2019

Darby & Joan Club, Crowborough - February 2019

Tuesday at Friends 60th Anniversary - February 2019

Bexhill 100 Motoring Club - January 2019

Horsham U3A - January 2019

National Trust, Horsham - January 2019

Ladies Who Lunch - January 2019

Langham Hotel - January 2019

St Catherine's Court, Littlehampton - December 2018

Hillborough House, Little Common - December 2018

Gables Court, Eastbourne - December 2018

Robertsbridge Historical Society - December 2018

Mannings Heath WI - December 2018

Fryern Ladies Probus Club - December 2018

Lashmar Ladies WI - December 2018

NHS Retirement Fellowship - November 2018

Meads WI - November 2018

Cardiff Ladies' Lunch Club - November 2018

Random Hall Hotel, Slinfold - November 2018

Eastbourne Business Awards - November 2018

with Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd
The Trefoil Guild, Heathfield - October 2018

Rustington WI - October 2018
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St Mary's Church, Willingdon, Harvest Supper - October 2018

Sainsbury's Veterans Association - October 2018
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Horsham Flower Club Emerald Anniversary - October 2018
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Hellingly WI 100th Anniversary - October 2018

West Adur WI Group Meeting - September 2018

University of Dundee Reunion Dinner - September 2018

Forest Row WI - September 2018

Hillborough House, Little Common - September 2018

Willingdon Floral Club Emerald Anniversary - September 2018

Mannings Heath Horticultural Society - September 2018

West Chiltington Theatre Arts Club - September 2018

Crowborough Evening Townswomen's Guild - September 2018

Battle & District U3A - September 2018

RAF Association, Hailsham - August 2018

Thalia House, Bexhill - August 2018

Second Hartley & District Active Retirement Association - August 2018
SHADARA

Sandhurst Friendship Club - August 2018
Edenbridge U3A - July 2018
Forum Society 60th Anniversary - July 2018
British Legion, Little Common - July 2018
Findon Village WI - July 2018
Barclay's Bank Spread Eagles Club Lunch, Eastbourne - July 2018
Chiddingly WI 100th Anniversary - July 2018
Sainsbury's Veterans Association, Crawley - June 2018

Sidley Friendship Group - June 2018
East Preston Festival - June 2018
80th Birthday Dinner, Hydro Hotel - May 2018
Hailsham & District Flower Club 60th Anniversary - May 2018
Warnham WI 100th Anniversary - May 2018

Jewish Association of Cultural Societies - May 2018
Ham Manor Golf Club - April 2018
Angmering Green WI - April 2018
Crowborough U3A - April 2018
Polegate Sundowners WI - April 2018
Under Ground Theatre - April 2018

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St Wilfrid's Pevensey Bay - April 2018
Hailsham FM Radio - April 2018
Double Golden Wedding Anniversary Lunch - March 2018 
Ferring Downs WI - March 2018

The Earl Okin Show - February 2018

Rushlake Green WI - February 2018

Eastbourne Rambling Club - February 2018

Chatsworth Hotel, Worthing - February 2018
National Federation of Occupational Pensioners

Cinque Ports Club, Uckfield - January 2018

RNLI, Eastbourne - January 2018

Burwash Ladies Group - January 2018

Ladies Who Lunch, Highwoods Golf Club - January 2018

Langham Hotel, Eastbourne - Boxing Day 2017

Meads Ladies Circle - December 2017

Conquest Hospital, Hastings - December 2017

RAF Lunch, Arundel - December 2017
 
Midhurst Garden Club - December 2017

Mayfield Bonfire Society - December 2017

East Preston Floral Club 50th Anniversary Lunch - November 2017
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Crowborough Wolfe Bowls Club - November 2017

After 8 Club, Burwash - November 2017

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ChatterBex Club, Bexhill - October 2017

Centenary of WI in Sussex - Crowborough - October 2017
Catsfield WI - October 2017

Friends of Clapham & Patching Churches - September 2017

WI Group Meeting, Durrington - September 2017

Tuesday at Friends, Brighton - September 2017
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Oddfellows Society, Tunbridge Wells branch - September 2017

Parkinson's UK, Worthing branch - August 2017
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80th Birthday Lunch, Cooden Beach Golf Club - August 2017

45th Wedding Anniversary Lunch, Seaford - July 2017
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Go-Getters Club, Uckfield - July 2017

Active Leisure Club, Little Common - July 2017

Hydro Hotel - July 2017

Friends of Devonshire Park Theatre - June 2017

Hastings & Rother U3A - June 2017

East Preston Festival - June 2017

Devonshire Park Townswomen's Guild - May 2017

St Wilfrid's Pevensey - May 2017

Adur East Lions Club - May 2017

South Down WI Group Meeting - April 2017
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Hampden Park Bowls Club - April 2017

Fairwarp WI - April 2017

Crowborough WI - March 2017

Clair Hall, Haywards Heath - March 2017
 
Christ Church, Eastbourne - March 2017


Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club - February 2017
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Devonshire Club, Eastbourne - February 2017

Rustington Manor Hotel - February 2016
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RNLI - January 2017

Ferring WI 80th Birthday - December 2016

95th Birthday Lunch, Horsebridge - December 2016

Private soiree, Langney - December 2016
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40th Wedding Anniversary Lunch - November 2016

Gables Court, Eastbourne - November 2016
 
Thalia House, Bexhill - November 2016

Meads U3A - October 2016

Riverside Club, Lewes - October 2016

Cardiac Support Group, Eastbourne - October 2016
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Langham Hotel Lunch Club - October 2016

Herstmonceux WI - October 2016

East Blatchington Townswomen's Guild, Seaford - October 2016

Oddfellows Society, Bexhill - September 2016

Bexhill Down Townswomen's Guild - September 2016

Bexhill 100 Motoring Club - August 2016

Sidley Friendship Club - August 2016

The Hawthorns - August 2016

Barclay's Bank Spread Eagle Club lunch - July 2016
Joyce Barrette 80th Birthday Tea - July 2016

Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne - July 2016

Photo: Hannah Francis
Active Leisure Club, Little Common - June 2016

Harbour WI - June 2016
 
Willingdon WI - June 2016

West St Leonard's Townswomen's Guild - May 2016

Regency Group WI Spring Meeting - May 2016

Little Common WI Birthday Meeting - March 2016

Meads Ladies Circle - March 2016

Little Common Horticultural Society - March 2016

Ladies Who Lunch, Bexhill - March 2016

Polegate WI - March 2016

Cross-in-Hand WI - February 2016

Cardiff Ladies' Lunch Club - February 2016

Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club - February 2016

Sussex County Cricket Ground, Hove - January 2016
 
East Dean Village Hall - January 2016

The Hawthorns, Eastbourne - January 2016

Golden Marigold Club, Bexhill - December 2015
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Stratford-Upon-Avon Ladies' Lunch - December 2015
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Westham WI Christmas Party - December 2015
 
Patcham WI Christmas Party - December 2015
 
Pevensey Castle Masonic Dinner - December 2015
The younger generation are in a world of their own !!

Ladies' Executive Lunch, Rochford - December 2015

The Hawthorns, Eastbourne - November 2015

Meads WI - November 2015

Gildredge Park Bowls Club Lunch - October 2015

Harbour Friends Lunch - October 2015
 
Queen Alexandra Cottage Homes - September 2015

Anderida WI - September 2015

100th Anniversary of Women's Institute in UK - September 2015

Maples Court, Bexleyheath - July 2015

Barclay's Bank Spreadeagles Lunch, Wickwoods Country Club - July 2015
Healthy Living Centre, Worthing, July 2015

Devonshire Park Townswomen's Guild - July 2015
Telscombe Cliffs WI's 80th Birthday - July 2015

Oddfellows Friendly Society, Bexhill - June 2015
Butt's Brow WI, Willingdon - June 2015
 
Little Common Communty Centre 70th Anniversary Dinner - June 2015

Bexhill Down Townswomen's Guild 50th Anniversary - May 2015

Thalia House, Bexhill - April 2015

Castle Group WI, Ringmer - April 2015
 
Southdown Group WI Spring Meeting, Hove - April 2015

Bexhill 100 Classic Car Club - March 2015

Shirley & Colin Nash's 60th Wedding Anniversary
Cumberland Hotel, Eastbourne - March 2015
Waiting for the chauffeur to take her to the hotel
Gables Court - February 2015

Lioness Conference, Maidstone - February 2015
East Dean Village Hall Trust, "An Evening with Lady Crabtree" - January 2015
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The Twenty-Ten Club, Little Common, January 2015

Meet & Greet Lunch for Carers, Seaford - December 2014
 
Sovereign WI - December 2014

Lewes Westgate WI - December 2014
Meads Townswomen's Guild - December 2014

Kingston WI - December 2014

Catenian Association Dinner - December 2014

Bexhill Horticultural Society - November 2014

St Wilfrid's Hospice 30th Anniversary Lunch - October 2014
The MORE Club, Eastbourne - October 2014

Queen Alexandra Cottage Homes, Eastbourne - September 2014

Trefoil Guild, Heathfield - September 2014

Under Ground Theatre, Old Time Music Hall - September 2014


St Michael's Hospice, Hastings - August 2014
Concentus Chorale - August 2014
WWI Centenary Show, Under Ground Theatre - July 2014

East Grinstead Meridian WI - July 2014
Eastbourne Area Epilepsy Group - June 2014

  
Buxted Court, Buxted - April 2014
 

Telscombe Cliffs Civic Centre - April 2014

East Sussex WI Spring Meeting, Lewes - April 2014

Polegate Afternoon Fellowship - March 2014

Gables Court, Eastbourne - February 2014

R N L I, Eastbourne - January 2014
Meads WI - November 2013

Sovereign Rotary Club Dinner, Chatsworth Hotel - October 2013

CommunityWise Ladies' Club - October 2013

The Good Life Show, Winter Garden Theatre, Eastbourne - October 2013
Edwards Coaches Lunch, Langham Hotel - September 2013

FOR A FULL SELECTION OF LADY CRABTREE PICTURES FROM ACROSS THE YEARS
CLICK ON PHOTO ALBUMS
THE DOWAGER LADY CRABTREE is a comedy character created in
April 1978 by author and entertainer Paul James -
although don't spoil it for your audience by revealing the secret!
HOW IT ALL BEGAN......
In the Summer of 1976 PAUL JAMES was introduced to the comedy double act of Patrick Fyffe and George Logan - HINGE & BRACKET - and was inspired by this extremely clever female impersonation, where the line between reality and make-believe became blurred. He saw many of their live performances over the next twenty-five years, met Patrick on numerous occasions, and in 1985 Dame Hilda Bracket wrote the Foreword to one of Paul's books. Today Paul is very proud to own two of Dame Hilda's original stage costumes.
HINGE & BRACKET
Dr Evadne Hinge & Dame Hilda Bracket
http://www.hingeandbracketofficial.co.uk/

It was while appearing in cabaret in 1978 that Paul James decided to create his own character - and Lady Crabtree made her first public appearance. Originally intended to be a single performance only, Paul was surprised by the audience demand to see more of Lady C - and so the act began to develop.
1980 1990 2013
Wanting Lady Crabtree to be as credible as Hinge & Bracket, yet completely different in style and character, he avoided their cosy nostalgia and made Lady C very much a woman of her times. The redoubtable Lady Crabtree told stories of her marital problems with husband Claude (chairman of the mid-Yorkshire Swine Breeders' Federation); the difficulties she had encountered on marrying into the aristocracy; the embarrassment caused by her twin sister Millicent (currently on husband number five), and was not afraid to air her views about public figures - especially when Mrs Thatcher entered Downing Street in 1979.

Although Lady Crabtree occasionally sang, there was a deliberate attempt to avoid comparison with Hinge & Bracket and she lacked Dame Hilda's incredible operatic skills. Lady C was much more likely to launch into a Joyce Grenfell style monologue... plus she was just a touch more glamorous.
 
Various invitations soon came in and Lady Crabtree judged a fancy dress competition and a beauty contest in Devon; made a presentation to Sir Anthony Harris (the son of 'Bomber' Harris) in London, and by 1982 had appeared on a celebrity panel game for BBC Radio 2, had undertaken many press interviews for newspapers and magazines, continued to perform in hotels, and frequently aired her views in the media. She made her first TV appearance on the popular BBC 1 programme 'Pebble Mill at One' , and wrote two books that became international best-sellers, for which she made extensive promotional tours across the UK and undertook the inevitable bookshop signings at well-known stores in towns and cities across the country.
The act developed further when Lady Crabtree was joined on stage by her son GILES CRABTREE in 1984, followed a year later by her old chum from Finishing School days MORAG AUCHTERMUCHTY.
Since 1991 Lady Crabtree has performed mostly as a solo act. She appears at a variety of functions each year, entertaining a number of clubs groups and societies, is regularly booked to appear at special events and anniversaries, and is a popular speaker giving many talks and loves acting as compere at events.
With clean, genteel humour, reminiscences and no offensive language, Lady Crabtree brings merriment to any occasion.
IF THE QUEEN ISN'T FREE, THEN BOOK LADY C....
Paul James Lady Crabtree
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ADD A TOUCH OF COMIC CLASS TO YOUR EVENT
EMAIL TODAY WITH YOUR REQUIREMENTS
AND DISCOVER THE POSSIBILITIES
connie@ladycrabtree.co.uk
LET THE FUN BEGIN !
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