Sitting here looking through an old address book, wondering what happened to all the people in it, I came across the name Lucie Sage and googled it (as I have done with others) and saw this page. I didn't know Lucie for long and it was many years ago (Bip may remember) but she is one of those I have thought about over the years as she left an impression on me. She was very funny, and dare I say a bit nuts, and made me laugh so it was with sadness I read of her passing. Fondly remembered.

Lucie, was a ‘performer’ from a young age, with a natural flair for dance and comedy. On leaving School at 16 she won places to a couple of Stage Schools, and at 17 opted to join a 3 year course at Laine Theatre Arts, where we met. Lucie was a good all rounder, being a particularly stylish Modern, Jazz and Tap Dancer.........and with a natural fine sense of comic timing fuelled by her acute observational skills of people studying. At Laine’s Lucie was friendly and funny and loved by fellow students & staff alike, a memorable member of the college. But also, as a head-turning glamorous young woman…….who in the next minute would would have people rolling in the isles at her comic actions and sharp repartee!  I have fond personal early memories of this time when we were students and would go to the Lucie’s local Nightclub & disco, Pantiles, at the weekend. I would arrive at her house, where her very lovely Mother Celia, referred to as “Mumsley” or ‘Ceel’, would be busy acting Wardrobe Mistress, preparing the carefully chosen outfit and accessories, tweaking & ironing & trimming, whilst dextrously serving cups of tea & snacks upstairs & down to “Fred” (Lucie’s Dad, actually Reg’!) and Mark, her much loved brother, Lucie & me!  Sounds effects of entertaining brother & sister banter & bicker, punctuated by the odd dry, well timed comment from Fred, & Celia telling the cat NOT to sit on Lucie’s outfit ricocheted about the house in Egham. Finally, like a butterfly emerging from it’s chrysallis, Lucie would appear in the front room looking a million dollars, and off we’d go in Lucie’s old car – which Fred had welded a piece of a washing machine to, very successfully, to repair a damaged wing!  As we entered Pantiles Lucie did indeed turn heads, looking gorgeous, model-like & able to dance as well!  Once, we stayed till “lights on time”, by then Lucie had had a few too many and had ordered a pizza to ‘help’, by then she had also attracted a little group of young men who had pursued her all night and from whom she had kept a sophisticated & aloof distance.  As she sat down with her pizza they were moving in and one came and asked if he could join us, Lucie shrugged at him, he sat, then, by way of a chat up, whether he could have a piece of her pizza, ...suddenly the lights came on, Lucie kicked off her fabulous 3 inch heels, slumped over her Pizza hiding it with her arms and told him to “no, go get your own bleedin’ pizza” !! …..Her response & comic timing shattered his dreams and gave the whole room a good laugh!  Poor bloke! (Oh & yes Yes, I did drive us home!) Lucie developed her glamorous persona and coupled with her Dancing ability discovered her love of travel when she got a, coveted, contract as a dancer on the QE2 in it’s glory days. It was on these cruises that she developed a love for the Caribbean, where years later she liked nothing better than to take her beloved “Mumsley” on holidays to various of the Islands she had visited, which they both really enjoyed.  Between contacts Lucie also developed another career as a successful Cat-Walk model for various fashion houses and stores in the UK & sometimes abroad.  I worked with her on other Dance Contracts in Europe, including some, in less volatile times, in the Middle East, this part of the world also always intrigued her, and lured her back as a visitor. Lucie then embarked on her next career working for British Airways, which suited her well, she worked hard and achieved a stable lifestyle, which also gave her access to the opportunity to enjoy frequent and cheap travel to the places she had always liked. Lucie had a number of significant romantic relationships in her life, but sadly, the man of her dreams remained there, in her dreams, none lived up to being her ideal partner.  Lucie had and achieved high standards in many things, which possibly left her often dissatisfied with life, but she was stronger than she herself thought, surviving many ups & downs, both physically & emotionally.  Lucie was very intelligent, organised and capable in many ways. Ultimately Lucie found her most important and safest place for her love was with her dear ‘’Mumsley” and for her older brother Mark. Thus, when Mark unexpectedly passed away, Lucie was devastated and she and her Mother became closer than ever, they lived together well and gave each other mutual comfort & companionship & love. By turn, Lucie ultimately became the dedicated carer for her her Mother Celia, as she began to suffer from Alzheimer’s, and until her death, which inevitably, left Lucie very deeply bereaved, and somewhat lost. Lucie was a compelling and complex character all her life. Lucie once said she would like to be remembered by her friends as the ‘Clown’, which I am sure, by many, she will, but coupled with many of those other complex & colourful characteristics and ultimately by her true love and care for her devoted “Mumsley”.......who, Lucie told me, always said “Lucie, you should have gone into Comedy”! I hope very much that somewhere Lucie, Celia & Mark & Fred are together having a catch up and and lots of laughs, free of worry and strife of life.

The news hit me like a blow ..... I knew you were struggling, I'm so sorry. God, you could be so funny! And lovely, too. I will never forget you! Goodbye, Lucille. Kit P.