In the 1980’s Peter Jones, Francophile, was managing a Building Society branch office in Stratford on Avon (Shakespeare country) and many of his clients were very affluent, there being much wealth in the area… he tells us the story of one his clients who had a very nice car that needed to go to France…
Lady Monica. Even though there was 30 years between us we had a very flirtatious but professional relationship. She spent much of the year in Menton, where France meets Italy.
Menton is one of my favourite towns in France and I have spent and still do spend much time there. The famous Lemon Festival is one the highlights of my year. It was also the topic of many of my conversations with Lady Monica which always concluded with “you must come up and see me some time”.
One morning my secretary buzzed up to my office and said she had Lady Monica on the phone. A bit odd I thought, as I knew she was in Menton.
“Mr. Jones, good morning, I have a proposition for you. My husband’s car is in Stratford and we really would like it in Menton for the summer. Would you like to drive it down, you could stay a couple of nights with us and I would pay for your flight back from Nice”.
I thanked her for the kind offer but advised that work and family commitments would make it difficult if not impossible.
“It is a white convertible Aston Martin” came the response…
Lady Monica's Car Goes to Menton...
By Peter Jones