Showbiz lights go on again for delightful Isla St Clair

Jul 7 2010 by Steve Burbridge, The Journal

WHATEVER became of Isla St Clair after The Generation Game? STEVE BURBRIDGE catches up with her on the theatre circuit.

“By the time I was 13 I had my own radio series. My mother was also one of the founding members of a folk club in Aberdeen and she was the main driving force in developing my own interest in traditional Scottish folk music.”

In 1971, Isla was voted Folk Singer of the Year by the New Musical Express. She has since produced several albums featuring Scottish folk songs and, in 1997, presented a series on BBC Radio 2, Tatties and Herrin’, which explained the origins of songs from her birthplace, North East Scotland.

She is intensely proud of her heritage, explaining: “I come from fisher-folk on my mother’s side and so to have the roots clearly in place certainly helps tremendously to cope with life.”

Indeed, it was her down-to-earth attitude that landed her the job on The Generation Game.

“They felt I'd be a good foil for Larry, who was so showbizzy, camp and over the top. I was the complete opposite. My feet were firmly planted on the ground. They decided I was refreshing – I didn't have model good looks or style.”

Despite being polar opposites, Isla and Larry were great friends.

“Larry was not a man you could script, so things would just happen,” she says. “I think one of my fondest memories was when we had the morris dancers on and they were going round with the bells on and Larry and I were also taking part.

“One of the guys had a wooden spoon, which he used to give people a wee tap on the behind. Well, when this happened to Larry, he got hold of the spoon and gave him a really good whack. It has to be seen to be enjoyed fully.”

Isla also remembers that Larry often used to compare her dressing room to that of Kathy Kirby.

“I think because I was fairly untidy,” she admits. “So, I must take it that Kathy Kirby was rather untidy, too. He was always coming in with a wee vacuum cleaner and clearing up.”

In her latest project, Isla takes a fascinating and often humorous look at the music of wartime.

“I’m presenting and singing a selection of songs and telling the stories behind them. There’s also a large screen on which we show pieces of archive footage whilst Patrick King gives the background from both a historical and film-making aspect.”

She insists: “It’s a very interesting, entertaining and informative evening.”

Isla is also an active supporter of the Not Forgotten Association, a Forces charity for veterans.

In 2000, she was invited to perform at the National Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the retreat from Dunkirk, she sang a song which was written by her mother, Zetta, in memory of the loss of her two brothers who were both killed in the Second World War.

“Music played an extremely important part in people’s everyday lives during wartime,” says Isla. “Whether it was used for boosting morale, for propaganda or for just reminding them of better times.”

Eyes Front! is at Darlington Arts Centre on Friday at 8pm. Tickets: 01325 486 555 or www.darlingtonarts.co.uk