“England’s Water Rats Surprise Danny Kaye”
Sarasota Journal – Jan. 15, 1975
By: Joyce Haber
It isn’t often a sharp performer like Danny Kaye is taken totally by surprise. But surprised he was when he went as the guest of restaurant mogul Alan Watts to a dinner given by England’s Water Rats. Who, or what, you say, is or are the Water Rats? The Water Rats is a theatrical group, the English equivalent of our Lambs or Friars Clubs.
And what was the surprise? After dinner, many celebrities were introduced and took their bows, but Danny wasn’t mentioned. Suddenly British Prime Minister Harold Wilson appeared. He spoke extemporaneously for half an hour on Danny Kaye. “Mr. Kaye,” he said, “is an entertainer the likes of whom we’ve never seen before.” He mentioned Danny’s impact as a performer, his humanitarianism (e.g. UNICEF, etc.) and his work for better relations among nations.
Danny then received the Grand Order of Water Rats Award: It is the first award the
Water Rats has given in its 90-
Which must have been the nicest Christmas gift Danny got.