Bromley Art Society Bringing Artists Together since 1947

From the mid 1960's right through to the 1980's for each Saturday throughout those summers, I went to the Kings Road to exhibit in the Chelsea Open Air Art Exhibition. The family came too. It was the period which came to be known as “The Swinging Sixties” and the Kings Road was at its centre. One never knew who we would meet, or just see passing by, next. It was a fun place to be and provided a welcome contrast to our normal suburban lifestyle. There were celebrities to recognise amongst the flower people and later amongst the punks, but this colourful, vibrant mix was never threatening.

I want to tell you of one particular experience which happened on one of those Saturdays in 1983. After looking at my exhibits a young American man asked me if I would be willing to paint a picture of the house of a friend. Of course I said yes - it is what I did. In those days most of my commissions were for painting houses in the Chelsea area and I assumed this to be just another of these. He then introduced me to his “friend” - it was soon apparent that the friend was actually his employer and he was Sheik Salim’s PA and minder. The Sheik was dark haired, even more handsome than the first man, he wore an emerald green silk shirt and tight white trousers and had been educated at Eton.

It was then that I was told that the house was near Luton and could I come to look at it that afternoon. There was a problem; our daughter Louise was with me but had gone for a walk with a boy friend and would not be back before 6pm when the show closed. They said they could wait as they also had to wait for their girl friends to emerge from their hairdressers.

Husband Leslie was rung and told that we would be late home, the two glamorous girl friends appeared and so did Louise. We set off squeezed into a white open- topped sports car. Just short of our destination Salim stopped the car and insisted one of the girls took over for the rest of the way. She was petrified but apparently could not refuse. To add to her nerves he sat on the bonnet and pointed the way.

We all arrived safely. The house was large with a beautiful garden and distant views over the surrounding countryside. Internally the furnishings were immaculate. I was taken round the outside of the house and two external viewpoints were agreed. He also wanted an interior of the main living room. On arrival a cook and maid were waiting to serve us with cocktails and sweetmeats, but there had been no sign of any cooking.
After a short time they offered to return us to the Kings Road where my car was parked - it was no trouble as they intended to go back to London for a meal in any case!

Louise and I reached home by about 10pm. We went back to the Luton house to take photographs in due course and the three watercolours were painted and delivered to an office in London and paid for. I never met Salim again.

Quite recently I was looking through my old order books and found my entry for the Luton house; the name of my client had been Bin Laden! One never knew who one would meet in the Kings Road.

Pat Tucker