Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 18, 1997, Winnipeg, Manitoba Ferguson moved her audience a backstage the Duchess had her sound Check a process that All the speakers go through to make sure the audience can hear them properly. She was still encircled by handlers and body guards pleasant but seemingly nervous. It was introduction time. Mary Tyler Moore had been Friendly a wide smile cracking her familiar face. Lauren Bacall had been playing the role of Hollywood Royalty that she can rightfully claim. Joan Rivers was brisk professional and kept moving by her manager she offered a hug when i made my Way offstage. Chatted briefly Sarah Ferguson looked As though she was hoping to make new friends. She Shook hands firmly her Ruby engagement ring glinting in the stage lights. She managed not to recoil when told my profession. She chatted briefly with me and with series Moderator Sylvia Kuzyk polite conversation about nothing in particular. I regretted every snide Fergie joke id Ever written or laughed at. The Duchess of York simply but smartly dressed in a suit and High pumps was a woman who wanted to be liked. It would be impossible not to respond to her. Security Man approached a member of the Winnipeg contingent. The Duchess would like some Tea for her dressing room please. Earl Grey if that was possible. Her demands were simple. She wanted the comforts of Home. A bad Case of the nerves hit everyone simultaneously. As the sellout crowd filled the concert Hall Kuzyk and i walked backstage still practising our lines. The Security men the anticipation in the air the air of fragility that somehow surrounded the robust Duchess had everyone on Edge. Sarah Ferguson was still in her dressing room. Two rows of chairs were arranged a ,4duchess rises above the cruelties to show Shes made of Royal stuff by Lindor Reynolds free press columnist backstage for her retinue for the producers and organizers for the Host and Moderator. Only my 10-year-old and her father sat. Everyone else paced. Sylvia Kuzyk introduced me. I took a deep breath and hit the stage trying to remember to smile. I spoke briefly and then introduced Kuzyk who was to introduce the Duchess of York. As i left the stage the Duchess entered the backstage area. She looked like a Deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. As Kuzyk spoke the Duchess strode anxiously Back and Forth shaking her head brow furrowed fanning herself with her speaking notes. She spotted the girl moved Over and settled in for a cosy Chat. Did she like to read would she like the Duchess to Send her copies of her books about a red haired Princess would she write the Duchess and Tell her what she thought of the books did people Ever bother her about her freckles Arah Ferguson the Duchess of York bounded through the Back doors of the Centennial concert Hall monday night with a wide Grin and a toss of her trademark Titian hair. She paused briefly and smiled uncertainly at the informal receiving line that snaked through the entryway. A dozen or so Winni Eggers smiled Back none of us sure if we should curtsy speak to the infamous former Royal or pretend this really Wasny to a big Deal. It was a big Deal. No one was capable of pretending otherwise. Most of the same players had been backstage for Mary Tyler Moore Lauren Bacall and Joan Rivers All speakers at the 1997 unique lives and experiences series. There were no receiving lines then no questions As to How to address the Star and no overwhelming Security presence for those women. They were television and movie stars. They weren to related to the Queen. They Hadnot been photographed in a series of compromising situations. They might have caused scandal in their time but they Hadnot shaken the Royal family to its foundations. Sarah Ferguson had. First move we instinctively formed our ragtag line. The Duchess made the first move. She stepped Forward smile still wide and stopped in front of a red haired child. She beamed and put out her jewelled hand. The 10-year-old blushed when Sarah Ferguson commented on their shared hair Colour asked if she was Ever teased for being a redhead. My daughter was bowled Over by the attention. Sarah Ferguson a handlers the show s producers her american Book agent and a swirl of sycophants whistled her Down the corridor into her dressing room. She tried to make Eye Contact with the rest of the receiving line As she was led away. Sarah Ferguson a visit to Winnipeg was cloaked in exceptional Security. Men with Walkie talkies roamed the empty concert Hall before the audience was allowed in. Everyone coming through the backstage door had to have their name on a clearance list and had to provide photo identification. As the series Host in be met the Security people Many times. We shared a laugh Over my Drivers licence photo monday night. Large Bulky men were positioned outside the Duchess dressing room. More lined the hallway More still were stationed backstage. They were an assortment of bodyguards and Law enforcement officials. Brits americans and canadians shared the Job of protecting the Duchess. . Randy Wilson is part of the metropolitan Toronto police combined forces asian investigative unit. Monday night he was far from Home. There was no direct link to his Normal Job he explained. A the business card might seem a Little confusing a he said shrugging Broad shoulders. A the two Arentt really with a pleasant smile he deflected questions As to Why he had been chosen. His eyes moved constantly checking the hallway for danger. They talked quietly my daughter laughing the Duchess of York calming herself with a child the age of her eldest daughter. She knew she was creating a lifelong memory for my child. She also knew instinctively that she would find Security in the company of a Little girl. Sarah Ferguson unfortunately is still not Best known for her Charity work with children. Her escapades polished and presented by a the Fleet Street boys a overshadow her Good works. When she was deemed the wicked Royal it was inconvenient to focus on her children in crisis foundation the teenage cancer Trust chances for children charities that All support children in need. When she was awarded the Mother Hale award for caring to recognize her work on behalf of children a charities in America the focus was on her weight not her work. The simple truth is she does care about the Well being of children. One child at a time if need be. F of he Duchess of Yorkus speech was Heartfelt and honest. Her hands trembled As she began exposing her life to this audience of strangers. As a woman who has been treated cruelly around the world she is vulnerable. She spoke of her childhood the sense of insecurity caused by her parents divorce about her adolescence. She joked at her clumsiness guff awing along with the crowd. She moved people to tears As she told the Story of meeting Prince Andrew a my Many she called him marrying him and being absorbed into the family firm. She talked of her two beloved children of the end of the marriage the Heartbreak and the eventual decision that she and her sex husband would share a Home and custody of the girls. She was Frank about her weight problems. Her Charity work was detailed not As a Means of self congratulation but As a plea to consider the needs of children everywhere. She spoke with passion of the need for Safe havens clean air and the Opportunity to have illnesses backstage there were tears backstage As she spoke her Fervour and conviction ringing through the House. The question and answer period was polite and deferential. A 17-year-old girl thanked the Duchess for saying that divorced parents can still be friends. Others asked if she a considered remarrying or remarrying Prince Andrew. She answered openly laughing at herself and her image. Applause was still ringing As the Duchess of York made her Way backstage. She was surrounded again coddled by a ring of people who assured her she had done Well. She pulled away and stopped in front of my daughter. Quot were you terribly bored a she asked. My child has no training in Royal protocol but knew the Correct response. She Shook her head slightly and gazed at her feet. A Well i might have been a said the Duchess. A i do like to talk done to i a there were books to be signed photos to be taken a special reception for Sarah Ferguson to attend. But first the Duchess of York took the time to make a Little Winnipeg girl feel like a Princess. One child at a time she a easing the pain that can accompany innocence. Id a Preston has earned a place continued from by in the last year Manning has attempted to polish his image by adopting a More modern hair Cut and by having laser surgery on his eyes so that he does not have to Wear glasses. A the is in the truest sense a Leader even though he does no to have the traditional leaders look. We All recognize that Preston does no to come across As the most charismatic Leader. But he has taken us far a Kenney said. Other dissidents Are less willing to blame the Media for Manning a problems. University of Calgary political scientist Tom Flanagan said Reform and Manning have undergone tremendous growing pains that threaten the future of the party. Flanagan who was one of the chief policy architects of Reform before leaving the party after a Well publicized falling out with Manning said it is not just the Quantity but the Quality of people who have left the Reform ranks that is the most worrisome and it Speaks directly to Manning a leadership style. Quot Manning has had a problem Over the years in keeping highly competent and Strong minded people around him Quot Flanagan said. Manning according to Flanagan is a very private Man who generally keeps his personal values and views submerged. In fact Many party insiders will admit that while Manning a party politics Are very Well known he rarely talks about his own values even though Many suspect his personal opinions differ from that of the party. Inner party Workings Are a much different Issue. Flanagan said Manning is in Many ways a classic populist Leader who lives within the great irony of this kind of ideology Manning is a Leader who espouses grassroots consensus building in government but rules the party through what political scientists Call a Agenda in this scenario Manning wields enormous Power by influencing the party to adhere to his Agenda while ostracize no or eliminating anyone with the personal skills to Challenge him Flanagan said. Overall Flanagan continues a i think Preston has already earned a place in Canadian history a he said. A the has founded a new party. He has led the party to a degree of Success that people said was impossible. He has shattered the progressive conservative party. A the Only question is whether he is going to take the party to the destination that he himself has ;