Eastbourne author Tony Flood talks to former Miss World and Los Angeles resident, Ann Sidney, about her traumatic experience during the recent California Wildfires
Former Miss World Ann Sidney, who has become a friend of mine and follows me as an author, has bravely remained living in Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires, but tells me she is seriously considering moving back to the UK.
She said: “The fires were traumatizing and the aftermath very stressful. I am now contemplating selling up, but first I must find a place to buy in my hometown area in Poole. It’s all a bit daunting at the moment.”
Ann is supportive of efforts to raise money to help the tens of thousands of people who lost their homes. Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation providing over $2.5 billion in disaster relief, but more funds are needed and donations can be made through the Red Cross and other organisations listed on Google.
The glamorous Ms Sidney, who was crowned Miss World back in 1964 and is now aged 80, added: “The damage was immense, caused by an unstoppable fireball due to the high Santa Ana winds we get each year.
“Every night from my large front windows, which have a view over the San Fernando Valley, I could see the flames on the mountains and it did scare me. It reminded me of how vulnerable everyone is living in and around this mountainous topography.
“The first six days the 80 to 100mph Santa Ana winds created a fireball that was impossible to stop. We suffer high winds like these every year and for centuries fires have broken out across the entire area where the brush inland gets extremely dry.
“In the recent past, we have had several fires near my home in the Chatsworth Hills. The Woolsey fires went all the way from here to Malibu.”
Many celebrities are among the thousands of people still recovering from the horror of having their homes burnt to the ground by the wildfires.
Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson and Billy Crystal lost their houses as fires ripped through parts of California in January this year.
Actor-director Gibson revealed that his $14.5m Malibu mansion was “burnt to nothing” while he was filming Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Crystal said he and his wife Janice were “heartbroken” by the loss of their Pacific Palisades home where they had lived since 1979.
Hilton was “heartbroken beyond words” to see her Malibu home, where she had brought up her young children Phoenix and London “burn to the ground on live TV”.
Sir Anthony Hopkins, winner of two Oscars for The Silence of the Lambs and The Father, and his wife lost two homes in the Pacific Palisades, a hillside area between Santa Monica and Malibu. He said: The only thing we take with us is the love we give”.
But at least hotel heiress Hilton and the mega rich stars survived safely and should have the funds to rebuild. The wildfires initially took 29 lives in the Los Angeles area and destroyed more than 15,000 homes, leaving many of those who fled for their lives with nothing
Ann Sidney told me: “I was not evacuated this time, but once, when my late husband was here, we evacuated to a hotel as we had no electricity. My husband’s health was my main concern as the temperature became too hot to stay in the house.
“Fifty years ago this whole area burned. It’s very mountainous and one wonders why, despite its rocky and beautiful terrain, and amazing views over the valley, they were allowed to build in these areas.”
In the January disaster Ann and her neighbours had their electricity shut off. She explained: “Around 115k people had no electricity during this last episode of extremely high winds and red flag warnings. I was without electricity for six days the first week and then five days the next week and intermittently thereafter. I twice lost all the food in the fridge.
“It was traumatizing at that time and has made me reconsider living in this area. We have never had such severe fires as these last ones in Pacific Palisades, and Altadena, near to Pasadena.”
Coping with the disaster and the aftermath has delayed Ann’s plans to write an updated version of her book Surviving Miss World which reveals what fame and fortune can do to a young inexperienced girl of 20.
But before the wildfires struck she was able to enjoy reading my celebrity book My Life With The Stars. She said: “I’ve loved reading your book about showbiz and sports stars, Tony. It reminded me of my past and all the people I was fortunate enough to meet. It’s very informative, amusing and very well written.”
The celebrities’ secrets in My Life With The Stars include those of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Kylie Minogue, Muhammad Ali and Bruce Forsyth who swept Ann off her feet in a whirlwind romance before he eventually married another former Miss World.
For me, Ann Sidney has been the most successful ever Miss World, having starred as an actress, singer and presenter in films, the theatre and on television, which I detail in previous articles about her. Ann’s warm personality, talent and achievements have inspired many of those who have been fortunate to meet her.
The e-version of My Life With The Stars is available for just £1.77 on Amazon.co.uk, the link for which is: https://mybook.to/sizzlingsecrets If you live in America the link to Amazon.com is https://www.amazon.com/MY-LIFE-STARS-Sizzling-secrets-ebook/dp/B07WCWC9RH/
My crime thrillers Triple Tease, Stitch Up! and Fall Guy, and fantasy adventure Secret Potion, are also available on Amazon, where they have received excellent reviews.
