Chelsea Part II

The landlord of the studio also owned a 3 story house in Munro Terrace off Chelsea Embankment by the houseboats. It had recently become vacant and asked if we would like to rent it. It was too much for me and Johnny, but we formed a syndicate. Myrtle Healy would take the ground floor, Johnny Clamp the middle floor and me the attic. It was very handy for me as I could use the photographic facilities of Myrtle and Johnny and I recruited Clive Tunnycliffe another designer to share the attic. Quite a creative enclave. Eventually Johnny Clamp who was always short of money, halved his outgoings by involving another photographer to share his studio. Eventually, Jerry Mason took over the whole of Johnny Clamps part as he departed to Worthing to become a tutor at the art college. Jerry Mason and I formed an art director / photographer partnership that lasted 20 years.

60's part the III Sandy's Boots

It was winter and Sandy my then girl friend (now my wife) needed some boots for the snow. As we crossed the crossing by the Worlds End, Peter Sellers and his latest squeeze Brit Eckland crossed before us. They were window shopping for boots too. In the store the boots Sandy wanted were a knee length suede with crossed lacing all the way from the ankle to the top and fur lined. A beautiful boot. Sandy tried several sizes on and settled for the 5 1/2. As I got out my cash to pay, the assistant came over and said that we couldn't have the boots after all, as Brit Eckland wanted them. The assistant pleaded with us, but the more the plea the more we refused. Eventually Brit herself came over to plead here case. Wrong move. Sandy, as beautiful as any starlet, refused to part with them. I knew Miss Eckland vaguely as she lived in Billing Place behind our mansion block, but she always blanked me in the Fox and Pheasant and in Mr B's who cut her hair and mine. She turned to me to ask Sandy to give her them. Another wrong move. I don't answer for Sandy, she is her own woman. Eventually they left disappointed. Those boots were admired everywhere, and still to this day give us both the pleasure of remembrance.