Lesley Mackie - Daisy Pringle

## Lesley Mackie

Interview with Declan McCafferty, April, 2006.

Interview with Ian Thomas on Facebook, 8/21/13

Article in The Press and Journal, 9/22/21.

Stood in for Geraldine Cowper and ended up in the Harvest Festival picture, her head being "photoshopped" onto Rowan's body. This occurred on Oct 21, '72. ("I was there on October 21st. Diary says 'Picked up 1.30 for stills' Don't know which twin's face was used though.")

She also coached Britt on her Scottish accent and sang some of the songs.

She added this on January 15, 2024:

On October 30th 1972 I arrived at the Auld Kings Arms but say 'Wrong Hotel', but don't know if I stayed there or moved.

On October 31st, I say I got a good reception when I sang in the pub, so that must have been the day I sang Summertime with Edward and a Piaf song and out of it came the chance to sing in the film.

On Nov 4th it says; 'Arrived Glenluce 2pm. Kirroughtree folk round for a meal, so they must have come to where I was - and what had Glenluce to do with it? Was there a hotel there I wonder?

Nov 5th 'finally got my bit done. Got sleeper to London.

\*

Recording info

Feb 11th: 'Recording of songs. Back to the Hardy's. Stayed the night.' Not sure which songs these were.

Feb 12.' Coached Britt in Scots'.

Feb 13th. 'Rehearse with boys at Paul's house in afternoon. Met Jeremy at his house and went to Sleuth'. This was a reference to Jeremy Hardy, who I'd met when I stayed overnight at Robin and Caroline's home. 14th Feb: 'Session for Gently Johnny all morning. Listened to Corn Rigs. Lovely'

Feb 15th:' Willow's Song. Fire Leap Song.'

March 16th: 'Session all day. Out at Shepperton for run through'

March 18th: 'Rehearse title song'.

March 22nd 'Recording of title song at Shepperton'.

Hope some of this is of interest.... And lastly, in answer to Chris Standley during the filming, it (WIllow's Song) was a recording by a music student, Rachel Verney, that Britt worked with - at least I think so, and Rachel's recording was used on the original soundtrack as i imagine that it made sense for Britt's dance to be in time with the recording she worked with (Gary could confirm that!) So, No, I never recorded Willows Song until Feb 15th 1973.

\*

(About the behind the scenes pics - unknown dates section)

I may have replied already re the wallpaper but I can't see it now. On the snap with Edward Woodward and Victoria Sellers it's the pink wallpaper-same in the one with Walter Carr and Aubrey Morris but different and plainer in the one with the group at dinner at our hotel which includes Diane and Christopher so I do not think the group one was in the Kirroughtree.x

She added this Feb 19, 2023:

I was looking at my own diary for 1972 and it seems that it was earlier in February - from the 11th-16th that most of the songs were done: Gently Johnny, Fire Leap song, Willows Song. It was during that time that I spent a day with Britt to do some work on her Scottish accent (Feb 12th), but it wasn't until March 22nd that I recorded the Highland Lament. I don't think I saw anything🤣🌈 of that massive budget of £448.000 that you mention!

Ian added this on Facebook on Nov 14, 2017:

"I was paid £50 for my week's filming. £20 for singing the Highland Widow's Lament. £30 for my day with Britt(trying to teach her Scots!). I think the rest was thrown in - Willow's Song and all backing tracks!".

She added these thoughts on Facebook Sept. 26, 2017:

“Back in 1972 I was too young to even begin to imagine what might happen to the film. One week in my life which has echoed down the years. If I had, I might have hung onto my script and schedules (nothing on email then!) - it was just lucky that I took a few snaps. They've been with Jonathon Sothcott down in Lewes who was writing about The Wicker Man back in the late 80's and with Allan Brown who has written much about the film. I had a tremendous struggle to retrieve my photos and one or two may have disappeared along the way. However, I think they are too old to improve on now - though I have to admit I've only tried to enhance them on the computer. I have written a great deal about my time on the film, my subsequent meetings with Gary (to record a couple of his own compositions - preserved now on a cassette tape in my cupboard, though Gary will have the originals buried under a motorway somewhere no doubt!) - and my meetings with Robin when I stayed with him and his family at the time of the album recordings and the session with Britt Eckland to teach her Scots. Can you believe that it never crossed my mind to get photographs taken with him or of Britt, although I do have letters and many emails once we all got online. I actually 'dated' his son Jeremy at that time for a brief period, as he was the one living at home with Robin and his 2nd (I think) wife Caroline. I do have many stories, but I feel I have told most of them in many chats online, over the phone and in general chat. It has never occurred to me to make money out of any of it as I just enjoy sharing what I have and what I remember with people who love the film. Leave this with me John as I might just write up all my Wicker Memories - what is printable! Ha! Busy at the moment planning a Ruby Wedding celebration at the moment (I was a child bride!) And heading down to Newcastle next week to record an audio book. Cheers. lesleyx”

(Fintan asked about what dates they filmed the maypole and schoolroom scenes…)

"Whatever dates they were, I didn't go home on 5th November, because I had to go straight to London to take part in The Great Northern Welly Boot Show at the Young Vic - and I had to take the week's rushes of the film on the sleeper - and I was told they were worth £15000 - a great deal of money at that time. I shared a cabin and hardly slept a wink - reaching out my hand all night to check that the package was still there. I had to deliver it when I arrived and sat outside the studios until the door opened. Strange that they trusted someone they barely knew with such a precious cargo. It wasn't my fault that bits went missing! Ha!"

## Daisy Pringle

Born October, 8, 1959 and lives at Ash Grove according to the school register.