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From Issue No. 18 (August 2001)
It's a Small World!
by Maurice W. Powell
On the 6th April, Freda and myself set sail from Southampton aboard the P&O cruise ship 'Oriana' for a 14 day cruise of the Canary Islands.
After settling on board I perused the literature in the cabin, getting details of all facilities on board. While doing so I was taken aback to see the name of Andre Gaffney as one of the Entertainment Officers.
Andre was a one-time member of the Junior and Senior sections of the Society. Some of you may remember him as one of the royal children in the Society's 1987 production of "King and I"
He had successfully auditioned in London for the Stadium Theatre Co., who provided entertainment on all P&O cruise vessels and he had been posted to the 'Oriana' on a 6 month contract. This was his first cruise! The productions on board are of West End standard and performed in a first rate 66 seat theatre.
We had many a chat (over a few drinks, of course) when he spoke with affection of his time with the SSAOS.
Andre is 26 years old and his ambition is to travel the world then settle down with his wife, and two children and a dog.
How proud Freda and I were to think that the SSAOS had been instrumental in starting him off on a successful career.
Back at Southampton we disembarked from the 'Oriana' with Andre on the quayside, in his white suit, bidding farewell to the passengers - very smart!