The dancer Johaar Mosaval and I first met when I was an extra in Swan Lake in Liverpool in 1958. We remained friends: his last letter arrived in 2021 with a press cutting showing Cyril Ramaphosa investing him with an honour.
One evening when the Royal Ballet was performing at Inverness, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, came. It was shortly after his mother had died. When he was presented to her she handed him a small bouquet of heather she had brought to acknowledge his bereavement.
Alan Swerdlow
Johaar Mosaval was a friend of the Perse (School) Players producer Charlie (John) Tanfield, in Cambridge. In 1957 I was playing Olivia in Twelfth Night, and Johaar helped me with make-up. Unfortunately his efforts were done in ballet style, and Charlie did not approve – I had to be made up again in traditional style.
John Sills
