Mrs F. resists the forces of power

Press, 20 October 1981, Page 19

Mrs F. resists the forces of power

It seems that the council is determined to push ahead with the Fairmont tip and Mrs Featherstone is just as determined to be an,immovable obstacle. In tonight's episode of “Close to Home” on One, Emily and her friends are out in force, waving their banners in protest at the proposed site.

Mrs F. has done herself proud, except that she forgot to contact the media. “She may be a dozy old thing but she’s strong when it counts,” says Mildred Woods, who has played Mrs Featherstone over the last six years, and who admits to having protested before.

Strength is one thing and martyrdom another, as viewers will see in tonight's episode when Emily is suddenly in the middle of the road, eyes shut, in the path of a fast moving, 22-ton truck.

While camera crew and other watchers-on were gnawing their knuckles in sickening anticipation during filming, Mildred Woods was perfectly composed.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of it,” she confessed. “I had it all worked out that if the truck hit me all I would have to do would be to fall backwards and I’d, go right underneath it. I really wasn’t frightened at all."

When Mrs Woods joined “Close to Home” six years ago it was only to do a threemonth stint.

Now, Mrs F. is an institution and there would be an outcry if she were written out.

Of this character, Mrs Woods says:

j "Emily and I are very different types of people, but I every now and again when I see myself on television I see my mother. The gestures I use for Emily are my mother’s. I also get a fright when I see how grey my hair has become.”