Tuesday 5th Jan 1982

To The Belfry Club, (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s House, now Mosiman’s)

Big hold up on stencil – try various colours out on beam over fire door.

Nina Campbell comes up & after accepting our point over the blue colour, suggests we use our good taste & do what we think best. She goes for the stone colour with trompe l’oiele of lozenges. She is off for 2 weeks holiday, so will not be available for advice

Ring Paul Gilbert. He tells of, John Siddley (Lord Kenilworth)’s death in New York on 27th Dec.

Cremated over there – 2 strokes after open heart surgery earlier last year – insisted on living at fast pace. My job for him at Park Lane Hotel is still on – they want design raised up, to include a sofa beneath it. Firm will go on under Randall & Lady Kenilworth. 

So another of my Patrons is gone.

Tuesday 26th January 1982

I go Camden, to Robersons at Parkway in car & get Detail paper & some gold body & water size to attempt another fleur de lys’, for Peter Coats job.

Then, call in at PDSA jumble centre on Caledonian Road, and get some really nice books for 30p each. The place is damp & the men are shovelling up mouldy carpet from the bottom of pile.

In for lunch.

In noon I get my 1960 Saville Row blue suit & sponge some marks out. It still looks in good condition & I put it on later – B approves & girls haven’t seen me in this suit before.

I leave at 6.0 pm & drive to Cromwell Rd. in rain & walk from Harrington St. to St. Stephens Catholic Church in Gloucester Rd for Lord Kenilworth’s memorial service.

Congregation already seated in full church. Listening to address by dark & elegantly spoken man, I collect an order of service & sit in pews near front on right surrounded by gaunt Old Etonians in velvet collared overcoats – distinguished men & smart women – some antique dealers & decorators I’m sure.

The smoke of incense floats back from the altar & the choir sing eclesiastically The Faure Requiem, very moving.

The Church is well endowed & is rich in ornaments, pictures & sculptures, side chapels & Madonnas. The prayers and service are in English so we all say a quiet goodbye to John Siddley, Lord Kenilworth, his body consumed by fire in New York on 27th Dec ’81, precarious existence gone.

John B Fowler, Ronald Fleming , Kenneth Galliers Pratt etc. all gone.

I mingle with the well heeled on way out, past Lady Kenilworth flanked by Randle & his sister.

Drive home & have beer before supper.