Tuesday 2 June 2020

Ron Wakenshaw, an Aussie Carmen Miranda fan

Ron just outside a pavillion erected for the 100 years of Carmen Miranda's birth celebration. 
Sacramento & Wakenshaw. Both are gone now. 

Doni Sacramento & Ron Wakenshaw with the great Copacabana Palace in the background. 
Ron Wakenshaw & Myself having the old Cine Odeon on our backs... Ron is such a fan of old movie houses he begged the man who receives the tickets to be allowed inside the building to have a peek... and the man granted his wish. I kept on waiting outside while Ron had a quick tour of Cine Odeon's. 
altar at the church which held the religious service for Carmen Miranda's 50th death anniversary in 2005. 
Hotel para Solteiros (Bachelors' Hotel) at Lapa.
Doni Sacramento & Ron Wakenshaw at Carmen Miranda Museum in Flamengo. 
Wakenshaw tells it like it is to author Ruy Castro and his wife. 
Carmen Miranda's traveling chest sent it over to Miranda's family after she died in 1955.
Carmen Miranda's own Singer sewing machine
Ron Wakenshaw & Carlus Maximus at Copacabana Beach.

14 February 2020
, 12:53

to Tasman, 
Hello all … for some, this sad news be new …

Your friend and mine, Ron Wakenshaw … passed away last week.

For those that I am yet to speak to, please do accept my sincere condolences on your loss … it will be a little while before I get to speak to all of you on Ron’s lists.

Yes, cancer did get the better of him … but in so many ways, lordy … he was ready to go.  In speaking to him the few days before … and in his conversations with his doctors and carers … he just wanted someone to help him (medically) on his way.  He couldn’t wait to get up on the dance floor with Carmen.   Ron passed away peacefully, just as he wished, on his terms, without any treatment and in no pain, in the early hours of 6th February 2020.

In reviewing all his medical paperwork, available to me as his executor, there was early mention of cancer, hence the email sent out in mid-January seemed somewhat ambivalent – and with the information at hand then, or rather, the lack of it – necessarily so… but I have found in that paperwork mention of pre-malignant skin lesions from back in April 2018… sigh!

Ron is going to be buried in Rockhampton, privately, so there will be no funeral – as was his express wish - so, no mourners; he even objected to me being there, but after talking to him about the stonemasons and such and the family plot etc, he reluctantly acquiesced.  He wants you to remember him… nattering on about the evils of this world, especially Donald Trump, or waxing lyrical about Carmen, raving about the last movie he saw, or just being Ron. And smile.

For those with concern about his recent new mistress… Carmen, the pussy cat… she has found a new home in Redcliffe with a lovely family and a 12 year-old boy who fell in love with her the moment he saw her picture.  Ron was very happy I had found her a younger man… they’ll grow up together. I’ve found a pic of Carmen that if you squint a little… you can see Ron… with her.

*hugs and love to all*
Tasman.

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