Joan Collins

Diary – 5 November 2015

Plus: Percy’s secret birthday party; the golden age of Hollywood; and a cameo in the new Ab Fab movie

I had only experienced great loss when my mother died. It was desperately harrowing, but not as harrowing as the news that my sister Jackie had passed away. My mother had suffered a long lingering illness but Jackie only told me about her cancer two weeks before she died. It was a shattering, heart-breaking blow that I still haven’t assimilated and I don’t know if I ever will really get over it. I expect one learns to live with loss but she remains as vivid in my heart and my mind as if she were still alive. Jackie was a special woman, not because she was my sister but because of her indomitable spirit, amazing energy, generosity, kindness and warmth. To have written five books after being diagnosed with cancer seven and a half years ago was a major achievement, not to mention the journey to London last year to receive her well-deserved OBE, and again in March to celebrate my DBE. Jackie was not just a star, she was an entire galaxy.

I didn’t think I would be able to continue with the preparations for my husband’s surprise 50th birthday in October, but I threw myself into it, and made sure no one leaked the news. It was as clandestine as if I were having an affair, but it was all worth it when Percy arrived in the private room at Quaglino’s to be greeted by 35 family and guests yelling ‘Surprise!’

More recently, holed up in bed with the godmother of all colds, surrounded by balled-up tissues and piles of newspapers, I tried not to feel too sorry for myself at missing a couple of fun dinner parties. Percy contracted the same cold at the same time, so we were able to sympathise and rub each other’s backs with Vicks, while dosing up on honey and lemon drinks and echinacea pastilles.

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