Great Feats

BY SARAH SCHEELE, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
In 1979, Anthony Cornish came to Brussels to adjudicate for us in the new-ish festival of one act plays called FEATS (Festival of European Anglophone Theatrical Societies). It was the first time we had organised it in Brussels and my husband Jonathan and I were designated to look after Anthony for the weekend. Before we met him at the airport, the organising committee gave me instructions on what I had to say to Tony, and dutifully as we sat in the car, I said things like, “we would like you to spread the pots around” and “please do not be too hard on the groups who are not so good.” Eventually, Tony looked at me sideways and said quietly, “I have done this before, you know.” I subsequently saw ‘the look’ and the tone of voice used to good effect over the years, but it is filed away in my being as one of the embarrassing moments of my life. We then got on wonderfully well for the rest of the weekend.

FEATS went from strength to strength and it is very much thanks to Tony’s support and friendship to us all that it is still thriving today as an annual event. He was our favourite adjudicator for many years and always gave us good advice. He was honest, never patronising to us amateurs, and unfailingly positive.

The world will miss him.