Stars of television and film gathered at Cheltenham Racecourse to honour the late author Dame Jilly Cooper, with a memorial bench unveiled and a race dedicated in her name. The event took place on Friday, November 13, bringing together family, friends and cast members from the Disney+ drama Rivals.
Dame Jilly, who died last October aged 88, was a regular visitor to the racecourse and spent many happy days with friends at The Festival every March. The ceremony was held on the Crescent Walkway before a toast was raised as eight runners headed to post for the Jilly Cooper Veterans' Handicap Chase at 2.55pm, a race won by Thunder Rock.
Stars Pay Tribute at Memorial Bench Unveiling
The Rivals show, based on Jilly's 1988 novel of the same name, was represented by Victoria Smurfit, who plays Maud O'Hara, Rufus Jones, who stars as Paul Stratton, and Luca Pasqualino, who portrays Bas Baddingham. Hugh Bonneville, 63, was also among those paying tribute, alongside Jilly's literary agent Felicity Blunt, 45, and her husband, Hollywood star Stanley Tucci, 66.
Victoria, 52, who wore Holland Cooper and Boodles jewellery for the occasion, said she believed Jilly would have arranged the glorious sunshine herself. "It is extraordinary weather. In my head Jilly sorted this," she said. "She was like, 'Now big fella in your big, old chair. Here is a glass of champagne, what we need is a bit of sunshine'. I think that's what she's gone and done."
Fond Memories of the Author
Victoria added: "You don't turn Jilly Cooper down. She would have adored this." She described the author as "the greatest cheerleader on the planet", adding: "No better woman for sprinkling fairy dust." The actress also recalled Jilly's visits to the Rivals set, where she would famously ask around 11am: "But where's the champagne, darling?"
Victoria said the cast and crew made sure to raise a proper glass to Jilly after learning of her death, explaining that producers had arranged champagne bottles and glasses rather than plastic tumblers.
Racecourse Renames Bar in Her Honour
In another nod to the author's famous fictional world, Cheltenham's popular Retreat bar was temporarily renamed The Rutshire Arms, after the setting of her beloved novels. Hugh, who played Jilly's son Felix in an adaptation of her novel The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, said she would have loved the occasion.
"She was very passionate about horses in general, and this place in particular, and she wrote about it," he said. He praised the tribute, saying Jilly had shone a light on racing and horses through her books, while being "such a warm-hearted person who saw the good and the naughtiness in everyone".
Felicity said the day had felt full of Jilly's presence, adding that she wished the tribute could have taken place during her lifetime. Stanley, who met Jilly through his wife, said he had "never met anyone quite like" her. He described the author as "funny, irreverent, and brilliant", adding that she loved champagne, conversation and being surrounded by people. "She was indefatigable," he said.
