By Mark Gaulding
San Diego, California
I am very pleased to announce a number additions to our program at the upcoming Duke & Duchess of Windsor Society conference in San Diego, October 16-19 which will feature noted historian/biographer Hugo Vickers.
New programmes include:
NEW SPEAKER Corinne Mustin (Montague) grandchildren DOUG ST DENIS AND TOM MUSTIN
Doug St. Denis her brother, Tom Mustin, grandchildren of Corinne Mustin, will be speaking about their grandmother's and Wallis's lifelong friendship (they were first cousins once removed). If you'll recall, Wallis went to Pensacola to visit her cousin, Corinne, and met Winfield Spencer, the duchess' first husband. The Mustins and Spencers later all moved to Coronado to help establish a naval airbase. The Mustins remained in Coronado and have become not only a very important part of the community, but quite an important part of the naval base (which of course, we'll be visiting).
DUKE & DUCHESS OF WINDSOR EXHIBITION AT Coronado Library
October 2-November 28
The Society is also sponsoring a Duke and Duchess of Windsor exhibition at the Coronado Library and Doug St. Denis and her brother Tom Mustin, have contributed a cache of rare photos, letters, Christmas cards which are absolutely amazing. We will be visiting the exhibition during the conference. There is even a printed copy of the Montague genealogy up through Alice, Wallis's mother. So we will learn about Wallis' Montague side of the family. Corinne was, next to Aunt Bessie, Wallis' closest family member and their relationship endured throughout the Windsors lifetime (Corinne and husband were guests at the Nixon White House dinner honoring WE).
HISTORIC MENU AT WINDSOR GALA
For dinner Saturday night's Windsor Gala, we will be serving the same multi-course menu that was served to Edward, Prince of Wales in 1920 in the same room where he dined: the coronet room. So, we will truly be creating an historic evening.
SCREENING OF the Wallis documentary THE DEMONIZED DUCHESS
We'll be screening a documentary film, The Demonized Duchess, that was produced by Christine Carter who co-produced with HRH Prince Edward for the film Edward on Edward (which was about E8). The film was only shown in the UK and hasn't been shown here. It includes a number of interviews with the most amazing group of people. Truly historical.....no one outside of US has seen it.
TOUR OF THE NAVAL AIR BASE
Amazingly enough, we will be taking a tour of the naval air base on Coronado Island. This airbase was the reason that Lt. Commander Win Spencer and his wife went to live in San Diego. Win Spencer was sent to establish a new naval air base in San Diego in 1918-ish. I was flabbergasted. This tour is being arranged by Lt Commander of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.
ADDITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT AT WINDSOR GALA
* As previously announced, Lena Farugia will be performing excerpts from her play UNTITLED which premiered in London this year. In addition, the Windsor Gala evening will end with performances of a few numbers a new musical play which is about the Windsors. The books, score and some lyrics were written by Society Member Erv Raible (a long time NY director, coach and the current Executive Director of the Yale University International Cabaret Seminar). Shelly Markham, a well-known LA and Broadway musical director, will be accompany and will perform a song. Chicago actress and singer Jillanne Gabrille will sing Wallis' song and an as-yet male performer will sing the duke's songs.
This will truly be a "Windsor Gala" from start to finish. And it will be an historical evening.
For more information or to make reservations visit the Society's website:
http://www.ddows.org/