Fenella Fielding's OBE Awarded Posthumously

Her friend Simon McKay receives the star's honour on her behalf

Fenella Fielding's OBE, which was awarded to her in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, for Services to Drama and Charity has been received by her friend Simon McKay on her behalf. It will be included in the archive that is being put together to recognise her accomplishments.

Simon McKay received Fenella's OBE from Prince William last week, at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Fenella passed away aged 90, in September 2018.

Simon described it as "a bittersweet occasion."

"Prince William had said he had looked Fenella up. He knew about the Carry On films, but he also knew she had done a lot more than that. I said she was especially proud of playing Hedda in Hedda Gabler in the sixties and that she was a very gifted actress.

"The Prince acknowledged that it must be difficult for me to be there without her. I said it was. She would have loved to have met him and that I've recently found newspaper cuttings she'd kept about his mother. He looked quite tickled by that. He'd have been more tickled by Fenella, I'm sure. She'd joked with me that when she received her medal she'd say: "I used to have one like that. I got it from Debenhams."

Simon continued: "It was a bittersweet occasion for me. I'd have much rather have been with the other guests watching Fenella chat to Prince William, but I was delighted that once the title of OBE had been announced, it was possible for the estate to receive the Insignia posthumously. It will be an important part in Fenella's archive that we hope to display in the coming years."

Pictured with Simon McKay in 2017

Fenella Fielding is best known for her film appearances in Carry On Screaming (1966), Doctor in Clover (1966) and Carry On Regardless (1961). She was the voice of the Blue Queen in Dougal and the Blue Cat (1970) and the telephone operator and loudspeaker voice in The Prisoner.

Her stage credits include the title roles in Hedda Gabler (1969) and Colette (1970). She's also fondly remembered for a number of appearances on the Morecambe & Wise Show (1969-1972) as well as playing The Vixen in Uncle Jack (early 1990s).

Fenella published her memoir last year (co-written with Simon Mc Kay) entitled 'Do You Mind If I Smoke?'- the title is taken from one of her lines in Carry On Screaming in which she played vamp Valeria.

November 10, 2018