She hadn't thought about him for many years and only did so today because a friend rang and told her about lunching at the Garrick Club.
'Ah.. the Garrick with those marvelous pictures and wonderful wines' she thought to herself and remembered the times that she had lunched there in the early '70s.
A friend, Tim Odhams, had run a PR company in Dover Street called Odhams & Gunn, his family had owned the old and well respected publishing house, Odhams Press and Tim knew all manner of people from all walks of life and going to lunch at the Garrick with Tim and some of his friends was an experience, to say the least!
One of the partners of Odhams and Gunn was Raymond Brooks-Ward, he was 'a horseman' in the true sense of the word. He started broadcasting on equestrian events in 1956 and knew everyone in horse world.. from all over the world.
It was at a lunch at the Garrick on a Friday with Tim, Dinny, who was Raymond's wife, Raymond and another couple of people, whose names escape her, that Dinny asked her if she would like to be their guest for a party they were taking to the
Horse of the Year Show."I would love to come, thank you" she replied.
Fast forward to being collected from her flat by Dinny as Raymond was already at Wembley. They arrived and went off to the box where the party would all congregate.
They were early and people started to arrive, leave their coats and go off, she was the only non-big name! For just after she got there, Patricia and Sam Koechlin arrived. You, Dear Readers, would have known her as Pat Smythe.
Who with Tosca, Flanagan and Prince Hal (her most famous horses) was the most successful female show jumper in the world, a record that still stands.
She was an author of many children's books as well as equestrian and autobiographical books.
She was literally struck dumb! She had watched Pat jump many times as a child / teenager and to be included in the same party was a bit amazing!
The show started, Raymond was commentating, then it finished and he came back to the box with two people and she started to smile..
Raymond, whose manners were impeccable, brought them towards her saying "I like to introduce you to a friend of ours" but the man laughed and said "Oh, you don't have to Raymond, I've known her since she was 8 years old.. how are you darling girl?" And gave her the biggest hug.
To her, Dear Readers, he was Jaff. To you, Dear Readers, he would have been, unless you knew him, Lord Allenby, 2nd Viscount Allenby of Megiddo.
He was also the commissioner and chief instructor of her Pony Club, the Ashford Valley Branch and had taught her more than a trick or two at camp at Chilham Castle.
Everyone gathered their bags and coasts, they left Wembley and went onto Annabel's, where the party continued.
Jaff died 1984, Tim and Raymond died 1992. Pat Koechlin Smythe died 1996. Dinny died 2011.
Lost friends.. happy memories..
GeeGee Parrot.
January 27th, 2018.
PostScript: She cannot get to the allotment today, there was a major incident with burst mains in Hammersmith yesterday and a major section of King Street is closed. She's tried to get there when this happened before, it took hours. Next week will do just as well.. I hope.
'Ah.. the Garrick with those marvelous pictures and wonderful wines' she thought to herself and remembered the times that she had lunched there in the early '70s.
A friend, Tim Odhams, had run a PR company in Dover Street called Odhams & Gunn, his family had owned the old and well respected publishing house, Odhams Press and Tim knew all manner of people from all walks of life and going to lunch at the Garrick with Tim and some of his friends was an experience, to say the least!
One of the partners of Odhams and Gunn was Raymond Brooks-Ward, he was 'a horseman' in the true sense of the word. He started broadcasting on equestrian events in 1956 and knew everyone in horse world.. from all over the world.
It was at a lunch at the Garrick on a Friday with Tim, Dinny, who was Raymond's wife, Raymond and another couple of people, whose names escape her, that Dinny asked her if she would like to be their guest for a party they were taking to the
Horse of the Year Show."I would love to come, thank you" she replied.
Fast forward to being collected from her flat by Dinny as Raymond was already at Wembley. They arrived and went off to the box where the party would all congregate.
They were early and people started to arrive, leave their coats and go off, she was the only non-big name! For just after she got there, Patricia and Sam Koechlin arrived. You, Dear Readers, would have known her as Pat Smythe.
Who with Tosca, Flanagan and Prince Hal (her most famous horses) was the most successful female show jumper in the world, a record that still stands.
She was an author of many children's books as well as equestrian and autobiographical books.
She was literally struck dumb! She had watched Pat jump many times as a child / teenager and to be included in the same party was a bit amazing!
The show started, Raymond was commentating, then it finished and he came back to the box with two people and she started to smile..
Raymond, whose manners were impeccable, brought them towards her saying "I like to introduce you to a friend of ours" but the man laughed and said "Oh, you don't have to Raymond, I've known her since she was 8 years old.. how are you darling girl?" And gave her the biggest hug.
To her, Dear Readers, he was Jaff. To you, Dear Readers, he would have been, unless you knew him, Lord Allenby, 2nd Viscount Allenby of Megiddo.
He was also the commissioner and chief instructor of her Pony Club, the Ashford Valley Branch and had taught her more than a trick or two at camp at Chilham Castle.
Everyone gathered their bags and coasts, they left Wembley and went onto Annabel's, where the party continued.
Jaff died 1984, Tim and Raymond died 1992. Pat Koechlin Smythe died 1996. Dinny died 2011.
Lost friends.. happy memories..
GeeGee Parrot.
January 27th, 2018.
PostScript: She cannot get to the allotment today, there was a major incident with burst mains in Hammersmith yesterday and a major section of King Street is closed. She's tried to get there when this happened before, it took hours. Next week will do just as well.. I hope.
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