Sheila Ferguson, 69
Interview with Sheila Ferguson, 69
Published: 10 February 2017
The Indian people were extremely kind and forthcoming ...I will never lose touch with some of them, especially the lovely chap who took me to dinner!
American soul singer and actress Sheila is the former lead singer of 1970s girl group The Three Degrees. She has since had a career on stage and television in the UK, starring in numerous musicals and soul legend tours, as well as publishing a successful cook book on soul food.
Originally from Philadelphia USA, Sheila lived in UK since 1980 but currently lives on her own on the Balearic island of Mallorca, and wonders whether communal living in India will offer her an alternative - or prove too much for her.
Sheila says she survives on sex, food and reading, and she is looking forward to learning about Indian cooking and exploring new relationships. She is keen to meet a man in India or even join a singles club to find a date.
What was your role within the group?
I think my role was that of a now-single woman, looking to find new love, or a new life that would be more satisfactory than the way that I have been living since my partner, who was 25 years my junior, died eight years ago.
I believe I will come across as very self-sufficient, capable of fending for myself, accustomed to being on my own and not with a group of people. In Mallorca, I am alone 24/7. As such, I was not accustomed to compromising and doing group things!
The way I live is - I wake when I want, eat what and when I want, do whatever I want, whenever I want. So before The Real Marigold Hotel, there had been no one else to take into consideration and no need for compromise, which I obviously had to do with my fellow celebrity friends, who are a lovely, warm group of people.
What did you learn about yourself?
I was reluctant to take part in the show at first. I felt I was too young and that my fans would object to seeing me as an old age pensioner. But I agreed, and how glad I am that I did so. Of all the experiences I have encountered during my lifetime, this one was the most significant. I learned and gained so much inner knowledge and peace of mind from being in India.
It made me address things that I had never allowed myself to think about before this trip. I gained insight into my life's journey (past, present and most importantly, my future). This was an issue that I had always swept under the table by being a workaholic. All I did was work, work, work. Now I have lost my fear of death (which was a biggie), as well as my fear of what I need to do to change my life, and all for the better.
Tell us about some of the people you met
I immediately warmed to and became friends with Smita, the manageress of the Colonial Boutique Hotel where we were based. She and I shared a great many things - the losses of our partners, our love of cooking and entertaining, our dress sense, humour, love for travelling, family and that we live away from our children. We also shared the same sense of loneliness that many other women feel after the loss of a partner.
The Indian people were extremely kind and forthcoming with their descriptions of the various places we were to visit. I will never lose touch with some of them, especially the lovely chap who took me to dinner!
