JHB South East - Dec 21-Jan 22

For Maureen Elgar this has
been an opportunity to
take a journey back in time.
But of much more value
is the friendship which
developed between herself
and Jacqueline Fernandez,
a woman almost 40 years
her junior.
e catch up with
Jacqueline and
Maureen fondly
referred to as Nan in
Jacqui’s Bedfordview
home where they share
the incredible story
which proves that age
does not matter.
Not when you live life to
the fullest, not when you relive a life
filled with memories and especially
not when bonds of friendship are
being formed.
Jacqui and Maureen’s paths crossed
at a karate club in Bedfordview where
Maureen is a regular in support of her
grandchildren and where Jacqui and
her family are active.
Maureen is a resident of Queenshaven
Retirement Village.
‘We started chatting and I soon realised
that Maureen is a special person.
I also realised that you are never too
old to dance even when you are in
your 80s.
‘And Nan is proving this theory by
living it. I simply fell in love with Maureen’s
poise and her elegant soul.’
While sharing stories, Jacqui had what
one could call a light bulb moment
and with her being a producer at
JMM Productions, she thought that a
journey back into Maureen’s past with
her reliving her life would make for a
perfect television production.
And so the idea of the production of
Happily Ever Laughter was born.
Back in time
Nan entered the spotlight at the age
of 15 when she started producing her
concerts. Following in the footsteps
of her father, Jack Keens, she founded
the Junior Noisettes to both amuse
sick children in hospital and raise
Dance
and ... dance some more
funds for the underprivileged. Back in the years the group also entertained
many young souls in retirement homes.
With the production of Happily Ever Laughter Maureen returns to the spotlight
where the series follows her going back to the magical scenes of her life.
And for Maureen this was an opportunity of a lifetime because as she says,
‘Time is precious to all of us and there is no reason we, even at the age of 83,
need to stop dreaming and living.’
Beauty of friendship
During filming the two women formed a special relationship in the time they
spent together going back in time.
10 Get It Joburg South • Alberton • Bedfordview • Greenstone • Modderfontein December 2021/January 2022
GIS1203_010_484233957.indd 10 2021/11/17 13:42:41