Sir Peter Maxwell joins Ken Russell for The Boy Friend cast reunion

THE Queen's composer, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is to join film director Ken Russell for a major reunion today of the cast of his 1971 film The Boy Friend.

Orkney-based Sir Peter, 75, wrote most of the score and re-arranged the rest.

Model Twiggy, 60, who won two Golden Globes for her performance, and members of the original cast including Murray Melvin and Brian Murphy will also be there.

"Ken was very demanding but I liked him. He knew a lot about music and really cared. I'm looking forward to seeing old friends like Twiggy," said Sir Peter, who lives on Sanday.

"It was a very exciting time and I really enjoyed working with such a hugely talented bunch of people. I think the film still stands the test of time."

Labour MP Glenda Jackson, 74, who also starred in the film, declined an invite due to commitments while a planned reunion in March was cancelled as Russell, 82, was ill.

The Boy Friend is set on the French Riviera in the 1920s and features Twiggy's screen debut as the lead character, Miss Polly Browne. Sandy Wilson's screenplay debuted on Broadway in 1954 and starred Julie Andrews who later revised and directed the hit in 2003.

Today's event is part of a fundraising campaign at the New Theatre Royal to rebuild the disused Back-Lot, which burnt down shortly after The Boy Friend was filmed there.