Lesley Smith as Anne Boleyn - charity night
Anne Boleyn shared her thoughts on the eve of her death with 140 members and guests of S.I. Cannock & District. Lesley Smith, curator of Tutbury Castle, was the guest speaker at President Lakhwinder Thompson’s major fund-raising event which comes almost at the end of her year as President of SI Cannock.
Following an excellent meal at The Barns, Huntington, Anne Boleyn, alias historian Lesley, entered the room, dressed in black. She spoke as the anointed Queen of England [who still believed that Henry VIII would stop the execution], recounting her life to that point in time, detailing little known historical facts including the rushed divorce granted to Henry on the previous day, so that he would not have to authorise the death of his own wife.
Lesley Smiths’ in-depth knowledge of the character and the period was shown in the detail she was able to bring to the role – she held her audience spell-bound, taking them with her to the Tower of London in May 1536. When she came out of role she told everyone that Anne Boleyn is the role she takes on which is liked best by Historians although she hadn’t initially liked her herself, thinking that she was too calculating. As Lesley discovered more about Anne, her opinion changed. She now respects her, her Protestant faith and her fantastic intellect enormously. Lesley explained that the story of Anne having six fingers was very unlikely – she has carried out extensive research to find any evidence of this. She also said that Anne had been told she would burn at the stake – and was greatly relieved that the Calais swordsman, who was very good at his job, was brought in to carry out the execution. Anne Boleyn died when her daughter Elizabeth was three years old; she had no idea what an important part this young girl would eventually play in the history of England.
In her vote of thanks, Soroptimist Joan Edmunds paid tribute not only to Lesley Smith’s historical knowledge but also to her ability in portraying such roles.
Lesley was pleased to stay on and chat with individuals and groups about the women she portrays as well as about Tutbury Castle.
President Lakhwinder thanked everyone for making the evening such a success and for raising over £700 for her charity for this year, The Railway Children. The evening was an outstanding success!
Photos attached: President of SI Cannock & District Lakhwinder Thompson with Lesley Smith as Anne Boleyn.