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Ronald Kennedy and Maurice Chevalier
Ron was a teacher at Brandon. When the First World War started all the young men from the school joined the Durham Light Infantry. Ron was the only one of them to return. He was badly wounded and taken prisoner. A German doctor saved his life. While in the POW camp, an officer asked in the Sergeant's mess if anyone could teach a French officer English. Ron volunteered and was introduced to Maurice Chevalier, who was a very good pupil with a good ear, even picking up the Durham accent.
Ron came home, married, and eventually came to Whickham Front Street School as headmaster.
He met Maurice in London and asked him how he got his new accent. Maurice replied "What is the point of being French and speaking like you?".
Maurice came to Whickham in l932 accompanied by his wife Yvonne. At that time Ron lived at Hillcrest at the top of Fellside Road. The house was besieged, there were so many people there that they pushed down the garden wall. Helen slept through the noise but it woke her sister Moyra and there were press pictures of her in Yvonne's arms.
Maurice Chevalier dining
with Ronald Kennedy
Maurice went to America with his one man show, the first person to do this, then in 1952 brought it to The City Hall, Newcastle.
A Maurice Chevalier
programme
Ronald Kennedy with
Maurice Chevalier
Signed photograph of M. Chevalier
The next time Maurice was in London he stayed at the Dorchester and booked the Kennedys in there too.
Ron and Maurice kept in touch all their lives, Maurice died in l972 and Ron in 1975.