Mme Chagrin was our movement director when I was at Arts Educational London Schools in 1991 . She was kind , fierce , ambitious, funny and compassionate . I recall her talking about becoming a ‘Beast of Theatre’ as her summary of tenacity , vitality, bravery , dicipline and spirit. I think of her often and feel so privileged to have been in proximity of her genius . Rest well Claude and thank you for your selfless dedication to the training of others .

You helped me be the clown I eventually became… “Know your place!” I now know it… thank you Claude x

The definition of "a true artist!" - Claude challenged, cajoled, inspired generations of students who loved and revered her in equal measure. There isn't a day goes by when something she taught me doesn't enter my thought process. I was lucky enough to be in her orbit, and what an orbit it was, for a number of years. She had no time for people who couldn't commit to a creative thought, take risks and dedicate themselves to theatrical pursuit in whatever form was their "true calling". We all disappointed her in our own ways, and boy did she expose us for the frauds we were. She shone a light on how dedication to ones art is the noblest of all traditions. Claude, thank you for cutting through the bullish*t and showing us the way. You'll always be with us.