And it's still a lucky happy place. If you
don't believe me, go and read the War
Memorial in the church with 44 names on
it. And the inscription above: “In grateful
thanks that so many were preserved in
danger and spared to return to their
homes.” The surnames are familiar. Only
three died in the first war and one in the
second.
We count our blessings.
sharp, you know the sort of thing?” He
should, his boss had done Mary Quant’s
hair. I pictured myself leaving the salon
looking like Mary.
An hour or so later, I left London, ££££
lighter, but happy with my new hairstyle.
When I got home I went straight to the
mirror. What had happened? It was awful.
A pinhead on top of a beanpole! I burst into
tears. Thank goodness I was leaving the
country next week!
John Sargent
THE
UNKINDEST
CUT OF ALL
I was saddened to read in May of the death
of Vidal Sassoon, hairdresser to the stars.
I didn’t know him, but I once had my hair
cut in his salon, and the story became a
dinner-party regular of mine for years.
It was back in the 70s. I was due to go and
live in California for a year, and fancied
treating myself to a really good cut before
I went. My then sister-in-law said:
“Ooh, you must go to my hairdresser –
he’s Vidal Sassoon’s top stylist in London.
I’ll make an appointment if you like.” So off
I went to catch the Tube into town.
The stylist was having a bad day. He had
a streaming cold and was running late with
his clients.
“How would you like your hair today?” he
asked a trifle impatiently, sniffing
disdainfully at my shaggy locks. Trying to
sound as if I went there every week I said
something like:
“I think I’ll have a complete change. Short,
At least six months of ‘growing out’ later I
was shopping in Nordstrom (the California
woman’s favourite department store,
where they even had a pianist at a grand
piano on the first floor). An American
woman came up to me.
“Excuse me, I was just admiring your hair
– I love it. Do you mind my asking where
you got it cut? I’d love to go there.”
It had been a small price to pay for such a
moment.
“Not at all,” I said. “Vidal Sassoon, Bond
Street, London, England!” And swept away
feeling like a million dollars!
Belle Walker
LESS SUCCESSFUL
ASPECTS OF MY
BUSINESS CAREER
Bighton is stuffed full of success, so I
thought I might redress the balance.
When I was about 35, I was appointed a
director of an insurance company and a
bank, and became the chairman of a group
of estate agents. How so? (indeed, “Why
so?” I hear you cry, dear reader).
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