FIRST IMPRESSIONS: VIRGINIA McKENNA
What are you working on?
What I work on all the time, which is working for the Born Free Foundation, trying to raise awareness of wild animals in captivity.
When are you at your happiest?
In my marriage and having a wonderful family life and all the ups and downs it brings.
What is your greatest fear?
That the terrible suffering of countless people in the world today will not be able to be controlled and stopped. Personally, it would be that one of my children or grandchildren died before I did.
What is your earliest memory?
I was probably about four. I lived with my father in Hampstead and we had a little birdcage in my nursery with canaries in it. I never liked to see them in it – even then I thought it was terribly unkind to keep those little things in that tiny cage. One of my jobs was cleaning them out and, I don’t quite know how it happened, but I lifted the cage over to the window, opened the door to clean it out and they flew out of the window. I knew I would get into terrible trouble but in my heart I was so thrilled.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
Now I’m old I haven’t always got the energy to do all the things I want to.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My husband and [the wildlife conservationist] George Adamson have influenced me most in the way I think about things: respect for all creatures.
What is your most treasured possession?
My wedding ring.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Deplore is quite strong. I don’t admire self-conceit and selfi shness.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
After spending so much time in the sun I have quite a lot of little skin ruffles and patches that are quite hard to hide when they are on your face.
What is your favourite film?
Brief Encounter.
What is your favourite record?
Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor.
What is your favourite meal?
Anything vegetarian because that’s what I am. I do sometimes get a bit sick of pasta when I eat out. I’m very fond of Indian food, which is absolutely perfect for vegetarians.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
George Adamson, my husband, my four children and my stepdaughter, violinist Iona Brown, photographer Maria Slough, my literary agent Diana Tyler and my friends James Hogarth and Jane Boswell.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has said to you?
Many, many, many years ago it was reported locally here that my husband and I had refused to sign an autograph book for a child in our town, which was completely untrue. We would never, ever refuse, we were always so flattered to be asked – why would we refuse? I found that such a horrible thing to write. No one ever contacted us to ask us – they just wrote it.
Do you believe in aliens?
I believe in the spiritual things, but not aliens.
What is your secret vice?
Chocolate.
Do you write thank-you notes?
Always. Absolutely.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
Thank you.
What would improve the quality of your life?
Stopping the pheasant shooting that goes on near my home.
Tell us one thing people might not know about you…
I like experimenting with cooking. It’s fun, it’s an adventure and it isn’t always a success.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
I can’t answer that. You want someone else to write your epitaph – not yourself.
Tonight The Moon Is Red, by Virginia McKenna, is published by Muswell Press, priced £7.50.
What I work on all the time, which is working for the Born Free Foundation, trying to raise awareness of wild animals in captivity.
When are you at your happiest?
In my marriage and having a wonderful family life and all the ups and downs it brings.
What is your greatest fear?
That the terrible suffering of countless people in the world today will not be able to be controlled and stopped. Personally, it would be that one of my children or grandchildren died before I did.
What is your earliest memory?
I was probably about four. I lived with my father in Hampstead and we had a little birdcage in my nursery with canaries in it. I never liked to see them in it – even then I thought it was terribly unkind to keep those little things in that tiny cage. One of my jobs was cleaning them out and, I don’t quite know how it happened, but I lifted the cage over to the window, opened the door to clean it out and they flew out of the window. I knew I would get into terrible trouble but in my heart I was so thrilled.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
Now I’m old I haven’t always got the energy to do all the things I want to.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My husband and [the wildlife conservationist] George Adamson have influenced me most in the way I think about things: respect for all creatures.
What is your most treasured possession?
My wedding ring.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Deplore is quite strong. I don’t admire self-conceit and selfi shness.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
After spending so much time in the sun I have quite a lot of little skin ruffles and patches that are quite hard to hide when they are on your face.
What is your favourite film?
Brief Encounter.
What is your favourite record?
Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor.
What is your favourite meal?
Anything vegetarian because that’s what I am. I do sometimes get a bit sick of pasta when I eat out. I’m very fond of Indian food, which is absolutely perfect for vegetarians.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
George Adamson, my husband, my four children and my stepdaughter, violinist Iona Brown, photographer Maria Slough, my literary agent Diana Tyler and my friends James Hogarth and Jane Boswell.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has said to you?
Many, many, many years ago it was reported locally here that my husband and I had refused to sign an autograph book for a child in our town, which was completely untrue. We would never, ever refuse, we were always so flattered to be asked – why would we refuse? I found that such a horrible thing to write. No one ever contacted us to ask us – they just wrote it.
Do you believe in aliens?
I believe in the spiritual things, but not aliens.
What is your secret vice?
Chocolate.
Do you write thank-you notes?
Always. Absolutely.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
Thank you.
What would improve the quality of your life?
Stopping the pheasant shooting that goes on near my home.
Tell us one thing people might not know about you…
I like experimenting with cooking. It’s fun, it’s an adventure and it isn’t always a success.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
I can’t answer that. You want someone else to write your epitaph – not yourself.
Tonight The Moon Is Red, by Virginia McKenna, is published by Muswell Press, priced £7.50.