Cornelia Poem by Angela Wybrow

I am a massive fan of the actress, Cornelia Frances;
Any TV or theatre show, her presence really enhances.
Since I was fourteen, of hers, I’ve been a very big fan;
To watch her on TV, home, from school, I quickly ran.

In ‘The Young Doctors’, she played the fiery Sister Scott;
Viewers loved her, but her on-screen nursing staff did not!
She ruled the hospital wards with a cast iron fist;
There wasn’t a single trick that she ever missed!

But, through it all, she struck me as a very warm person;
Someone so very different, from her on-screen version.
When I’ve seen her interviewed, as herself, on TV,
She’s exactly the sort of person, I imagined she’d be.

The next Australian TV series, in which I caught her,
Was as Barbara, in the soap opera ‘Sons and Daughters.’
From this, there were many memorable scenes for me,
Especially those ones involving Barbara’s mother, Dee.

As Barbara, she was, yet again, a lady who was very strong;
Someone who would cope, even when things went very wrong.
To those Barbara liked, she would always extend a warm hand,
But, equally, she was very derisive, to those she couldn’t stand.

When any visitors turned up at the Hamilton household,
They received a welcome, which was either warm or cold.
At people, who she hated, she would stand, and coldly glare,
But with people she liked, she’d wrap her arm around theirs.

The people, who she liked, she would very warmly receive,
But the ones, she hated, she very bluntly asked to leave.
With husband, Gordon, Barbara had a very close bond;
Of each other, they always appeared to be so very fond.

For many years, she’s played Morag in ‘Home and Away’;
She keeps coming and going, but I wish she would stay!
Morag is a top judge, at the local criminal justice court,
So, it’s no surprise to learn, she’s the ‘tough-cookie’ sort.

Cornelia has always had such very expressive eyes,
And she strikes me as someone, who is also very wise.
When she’s with others, I notice every little hug; every little touch;
Her obvious warmth is one of the reasons, why I like her so much.

She’s nearly thirty years older than me: old enough to be my mum!
I’ve heard she has a really great sense of humour, and is great fun.
I can imagine that she’s like a mother to younger members of cast;
That they shared many wonderful times, and had a right old blast!

To meet Cornelia in person, is something which I’d really love to do,
And, for me, it really would be one of my biggest dreams come true.
I can imagine that I’d feel pretty nervous, and feel really rather shy,
But, I hope that I’d be brave enough, to approach her and say ‘hi! ’

Many years ago, in Westcliff-On-Sea, she was in panto,
But I lacked confidence back then, and so I didn’t go.
I really do greatly regret not going to see her now,
And really wish that I could put that right somehow.