Henry Perkins’ debut on Bolshoi stage

Henry Perkins in the premiere of Yuri Grigorovich's La Fille Mal Gardee, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, November 2009

Some exciting news about Henry as he starts to make history for this country…………….

Henry makes his debut on the Bolshoi stage on Friday with a major part in the premiere of Yuri Grigorovich’s new/revived La Fille Mal Gardee full length ballet. This will be a ‘first’ for a Brit! He will now be dancing all 3 performances over the weekend as the second cast dancer is injured and cannot dance his performance. They then go on tour – Barcelona over New Year for 2 weeks and then on to Washington DC, with more locations to be announced. He may also be dancing The Nutcracker Pas de Deux in Barcelona in the Mixed Bill performances.

(more photos on facebook)

2009 Lisa Wilson Scholarship Awards

On October 29th October, 5 new recipients were awarded bursaries from The Lisa Wilson Scholarship Fund.

The five recipients were; Michael George Brough, Charlotte Clark, Lilian Namaata, Hayley Sanders, and Charlotte Weddle-Hoyle.  Their awards were presented at a ceremony at Southampton Solent University which was presided over by Professor Jane Longmore.

Bursaries are given to students who can demonstrate how they have overcome adversity and why they need additional funding to help them with their educational dreams and ambitions in the way Lisa did.

At the awards ceremony, a beautiful film was shown of Lisa living her dream in New Zealand, taking on a free-fall parachute jump and the highest bungee jump in the world. Her trip to New Zealand and Australia was her reward to herself for all her hard work at the University, where she graduated with a BA.21 in Business Management

Lisa’s Father; Clive said “I could talk about Lisa for hours, the way that she could walk into a room and light it up, look at her brothers and turn them into fits of laughter without saying a word, she was a great dancer and loved to party, and the film that she sent home from New Zealand gives us the opportunity to see how she was living her dream”.

This year’s intake has brought the total number of students awarded bursaries to date has risen to 40. Each student receives a bursary for up to 3 years, and to date, 14 students have graduated from the University.

Five students graduated this year, one of whom was Tom Dowsett who graduated with a BA.21 in video film production. He spoke at the ceremony of how the additional funding had helped him with his care and transport costs, and enabled him to buy a camera and other important materials to help him get his degree, despite his disabilities.  Tom stands for everything that The Lisa Wilson Scholarship Fund stands for.

Lisa’s Grandad Jessiman has passed away

After living a long and active life, Lisa’s Grandad Bob Jesssiman passed away on October 24th at the age of 90.  Bob had been poorly for quite some time and was ready to go and join his granddaughter in a better place free from pain.

His life saw him live through 2 coronations, one abdication and seventeen prime ministers starting with David Lloyd George.  He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in the second world war in Egypt, Africa, and Germany.  His working life was varied; he was a trawlerman, a factory worker, and spent most of his working life as a boilerman fireman in the pit. He loved fishing, and later bowling at Scoonie Bowls Club in Leven, Fife where he lived most of his life with his wife Margaret.  They had five children, twelve grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.  In 2002, Bob and Margaret moved south following Scott and Kelly’s wedding in Scotland.

Bob will be laid to rest at Redlynch cemetery in Wiltshire which was his request.  He will be missed by all.

A star is named after Lisa

Lisa’s uncle Andy and his family recently named a star after Lisa.
The Lisa Alexandra Wilson Star is registered in the intergalactic starbase number ISD 0067510 and registered in star location M50.  It is situated in the constellation  of Monoceros.

This is very appropriate as the charity logo is a shooting star.

£750 raised in two days

On Friday 28th August, friends and family joined together the day after the wedding of Lisa’s brother Ross and his new bride Donna Enticknap for a curry night at the Royal Jaipur in Landford and raised £340 for the charity.

On Saturday 29th August a party was held at Nomansland to celebrate Lisa’s mum, Tricias 60th birthday, her brother Andy’s 50th birthday, and the recent wedding of Ross and Donna.  A signed photograph that had been donated to the Lisa Wilson Scholarship Fund by Celine Dion was raffled and raised £410.

Family news – Ross and Donna’s wedding

On Thursday 27th of August, Lisa’s brother Ross was married to Donna Enticknap in the tiny Roman temple in the Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset.  It was a small private ceremony attended by close friends and relatives with further guests arriving for the evening reception.  Music was provided by sitar and tabla players, an accordion player, and later a live set from The Huckleberries before Ross and Donna departed for their honeymoon.

Golf Day Winners 2009

Ladies’ winner, Liz Sims with special guest John Sydenham

The winners of the 7th Lisa Wilson Golf Day were as follows:

Men’s Winner – Nick Lear

Ladies’ Winner – Liz Sims

Junior Winner – Jamie Hughes

Guest Winners, Ladies’ – Wendy Stoddard

Guest Winners, Men’s – David Hayward

7th Lisa Wilson Golf Day raises over £7500

The 7th Lisa Wilson Golf Day took place on Saturday and, despite the dismal weather, there was a fantastic turn out of over 130 member and four dozen guests to play in the golf competitions.
The prizes were presented to the winners by former Saints legend, John Sydenham, who was over in Southampton on a visit from Australia where he now resides.
Just under 250 people turned up for the evening event to see John present prizes and star cabaret from comedian Mr Mike Osman, which was followed by two great sets from Abba Revival which had the dance floor heaving.
A raffle took place which raised just under £1,000 and the silent auction for sports memorabilia raised a further £450.
The event was a fantastic success with provisional profits for the evening at being over £7,500 which is by far the best total to the Wellow Golf Day.

Many thanks to all concerned, we look forward to seeing you next year when the date has been set for August 21st.

Update – Henry Perkins in Moscow

Henry standing outside the entrance to Red Square, June 2009

Henry Perkins, the dancer who received a bursary from the LWSF sponsors has just finished his third year at The Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow.

Golf Day to take place August 1st

Click here to download poster

For full details, entry forms and a list of nearby accommodation, please click here