[Spotlight Post] Shannon Hopps – Long Live the Queen
I mentioned on Wednesday that this weekend was going to be bittersweet for me – alas, for many of us. When the final cannon blows on Monday, May 27th, not only will it herald the end of the 33rd Season of Scarborough Renaissance festival – it will also be the end of Anne Boleyn. Shannon Hopps announced that after 25 seasons, she’s retiring to pursue other aspects of her life.
As with Dr. Who, there’s always someone who is “Your Doctorâ€. As I am Scot by birth, Queen Margaret is “MY†Queen… as David Tennant will always be “MY†Doctor. But as I’ve grown inordinately fond of Matt Smith’s Doctor, is also how much I love Shannon’s Queen Anne. And as with a whole generation of people – Shannon’s Queen Anne is the only Queen of England we know at Scarborough.
And what a legacy she leaves behind. The posts and comments on social media have been heartfelt and sincere. She’s been a role model and friend to many. I know her peripherally through social media and as a vendor out at the Faire. I’ve never seen her utter a cross word to anyone – no matter what the temperature or weather conditions. Not only is she a consummate professional – she is the embodiment of grace and beauty.
I’ve worked (with a break) as a vendor at Scarborough since 2006. I am honored to have sold Her Majesty a piece of art for her Real Life home (in fact, I’ve sold art to all the Royal Households of Scarborough – that’s kinda cool). And even though we – Jimmy and I – are not part of the cast, when we missed a week this run for a family event, when we came back Queen Anne welcomed us back and let us know that we were missed. Which, coming from Queen Anne (because that’s who’s on site after Opening Cannon and not Shannon) actually feels like it has some weight to it.
So this weekend, as we say our farewells to the season, we also say farewell to Queen Anne. And though we know Shannon has remarkable adventures ahead of her – and we look forward to living them vicariously though social media – with her husband, her menagerie, and her wide network of family, this part of her family will be grieving just a little for the loss of their queen.
I mentioned on Facebook that I wished some currently reigning queens were more like Shannon, and it bears repeating. And to whomever gets to spend time with her after this? You are not only lucky, but in for a treat. But for now… God Save the King, but LONG LIVE THE QUEEN. And someone stop slicing those onions, would ya?