Charles Lamb Kenney
(1821-1881), Author and playwrightSitter in 1 portrait
by Charles Hawkins
albumen carte-de-visite, late 1870s-early 1880s
NPG x132842
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Mr Boyd-Otley (Damian MacAdam Kenney)
15 December 2018, 20:22
I am the great-great-grandson of Charles Lamb Kenney, the gentleman in the portrait. He was named after his godfather, the essayist Charles Lamb. My birth-date is 28th April 1960; Charles Lamb Kenney was 29th April 1821.
Charles Lamb Kenney was my late father's great-grandfather. CL Kenney was an actor at the Adelphi Theatre, apart from being a Barrister, and he was also a personal friend of Charles Dickens and George Eliot. Published letters exist to prove this. CL Kenney resigned from being Times theatre critic; he had been offered the chance to be private secretary (now would be called a 'Personal Assistant') to Ferdinand de Lesseps who was commencing work on the Suez canal. If you look at my late mother's website; you will find an area devoted to me, and an area devoted to 'Desmond' my late father. The spooky thing is.....one of the photos of my dad (on the 'site) has an uncanny resemblance to dad in his later years. there is a link in dad's area to his late uncle and cousin Horace Kenney 1889-1955, and James Kenney 1930-1987. Father and son were both well known actors. Horace made comedy records, and had a BBC radio show in the 1930's. He acted on West-end stage with Hermione Baddely - he made several films with Wally Patch. Horace's son, my cousin, James was a well known film-star in the 1950's. He was Robert Donat's son in 'The Magic Box' 1951. He worked for Carol Reed in 'The Outcast of the Islands' 1951. He gave Dame Joan Collins her first screen kiss in 'Cosh Boy' 1952. He was in 'The Yangtse Incident', 'The Sea Shall Not Have Them' 1956. He was the brother of Dirk Bogarde and John Mills in 'The Gentle Gunman' - a film about the IRA. Jsames had aproblem with depression/alcohol - he took his own life in 1987. My parents and I had offered him a 'loving home' to help him on his way to a complete recovery - sadly he didn't come to us.....how I dearly wish he had....God bless him!! My Mum's website is: www.aileenboyd-otley.co.uk
I am a member of the:
'Society of Authors' in Scotland,'
'Scottish Association of Writers','
'Saltire Society,'
'Royal Celtic Society.'