Had I but known: Araminta, philistine, encounters Jon Vickers.

My thanks to Zen for his earlier post,  Opera, my real musical love..

Now I have to confess that I am not a great opera fan, but do enjoy some of the better known arias or should that be arie! Alas, when I was younger, I was rather more interested in the Beatles, or occasionally Bach.

Zen’s post reminded me of something I have not thought of in years, and took me on an interesting trip around cyperspace to solve the puzzle.

When I was at a loose end in my early twenties, I worked in a rather splendid country house hotel; not so much as a career move, because I hadn’t actually decided on a career, but more to help out  family friends.

One of the guests was an opera singer who was singing at Covent Garden, he preferred the peace and quiet to unwind after his performances and disliked staying in London hotels. He also enjoyed his food and the hotel restaurant was quite well-known nationally and internationally. All I could recall was that he was Canadian and his Christian name was Jon.  

He was a delightful chap, although a somewhat demanding guest and I ended up hand-washing his cashmere sweaters because he was reluctant to trust them to the hotel laundry service.  I had dinner with him on a couple of occasions and he gave me two tickets to see him performing at Covent Garden.

I have to admit that I had never heard of the gentleman and was totally unaware of his reputation in the operatic world, until recently.

So, what an idiot I was!  It was none other than Jon Vickers.

85 thoughts on “Had I but known: Araminta, philistine, encounters Jon Vickers.”

  1. What a lovely story Araminta; isn’t it lovely that Zen prompted you to this, well worth your search, I enjoyed listening to this, wonderful voice. Pity there’s no film footage of him performing, I was hoping to see his cashmere sweater 🙂

  4. Hello Zen: I’m glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for jogging my memory. The awful confession I have to make is that I didn’t use the tickets. I was working, and so I gave them to friends.
    I really wish I had made it though.

  5. Wow! You must have made a big impression to get dinner and a letter of thanks. It’s not like those guys have lots of time or remember the thousands of people they run into in their lives.

  6. Hi Jaime: well he was staying at the hotel for some time, but I think it was my expertise with cashmere; as in washing thereof, which really swung it! But yes, he was very charming, witty and kind and I did enjoy his company. He probably found it quite a novelty that I hadn’t a clue how famous he was.

  7. Yes, I’m sure he found that refreshing. Being accepted as another human being, rather than as an Opera God. He was kind of a hunk too.

  8. Not quite the same, but when I was 16/17 I worked at the local beach cafe/bistro and loved it. It was what it said on the tin, beach cafe during the day and quite a nice little bistro in the evening and my bosses, and good friends over the years, were really into Jazz and all of that wonderful type of music. Coming from one of the ultimate surf locations in the UK we were, as that age, all into reggae and Ska and could not be known to be into anything as stuffy as Jazz or classical music, but over time this music got into my soul and it is something that I love to this day. I really don’t think you can better a bit of fusion or proper Jazz to get into your soul.
    After digressing, what a great story Araminta and one of those great memories that can’t be taken away from you 🙂
    xxx

  9. Come on, Ara! Give us the full kissntell story about you and Jon! Your secret’s safe with us! Washed his sweaters indeed! in those days that was tantamount to cohabiting!

  10. Nice digression, Kate, and music does bring back memories. Just listening to some of the clips on here reminds me of periods in my life, which normally remain buried. Very evocative stuff.

    I had a friend who seemed to always be getting over some grand passion, and she used to play Leonard Cohen and Suzanne Vega until she met the next love of her life. Very depresssing, it was!

  11. Janus: nothing to tell; he was the same generation as my father, but yes, not unattractive. I probably blew it by my complete ignorance of opera.

    Now it might well have been different had I managed to make it to Covent Garden, or he hadn’t been married. Actually, I don’t think the question came up, but I assumed he was.

  12. I had a wonderful Suzanne Vega period-thankyou for reminding me 😉 She was great to wallow in!
    This was just before my fantastic forray (sp?) into Pink Floyd and, oh I have forgotten his name, I will be back!
    xxx

  14. Well, he was married, but I don’t know if he was married when he was taking you out to dinner!

  15. I assumed he was Jaime but the subject didn’t really come up. Just one of those things, and I haven’t thought about it since until today. I doubt he would remember me at all.

  16. Good blog Ara.
    I met a fair few celebs in my old line of work. Most were B list.. Ricky Tomlinson – a total sweetheart, Marco Pierre whatsit – lovely; GAzza; cried, predictably. Phillip Schofield – loads of orange make up and very tired looking; whatsis name Attenborough nature bloke – couldn’t keep his hands off,
    But the best/worst was Samuel L Jackson. HE came to Liverpool to film something. So we, in our ultimate editorial wisdom, announced on front page that he was going to live in Formby, Southport, Llandudno, Liverpool, Crosby, Wirral…anywhere, in fact, where we had flagging newspaper sales….Suffice to say there was a right showdown; phones banging, everyone yelling, solicitors’ letters flying around. When I finally met the great man, he didn’t half scowl, but he was so fit!
    Thanks for email at weekend btw. It’s sorted now; sorry to have bothered you with it. 🙂

  17. Good memories, then Araminta but you got me wondering how *do* you wash a cashmere sweater?

    Erm, I throw mine into the washing machine. Is that bad?

  22. Oh Ferret, I’d never heard it before…but that is so lovely. Such a beautiful song. I’m going to listen to it again and see if I can figure out the chords.

  23. Er,Jan; they hadn’t invented washing machines then! I used a special washing solution and did it wiv my own little paws. It’s the drying that is a bit tricky. You have to gently pull it back into shape and dry it flat, but not too quickly.

  24. Hello Claire: phew, glad to be of assistance, email wise and thanks for your comment.

    I don’t know about the B-list thing; at least you knew who you were meeting, which was more than I did!

  25. Furry: dear pink eared one; whoo hoo; you are here! Jules who? 😉 She obviously preferred you. What a sensible lady. 🙂

  26. Tell you, Ara, half the time I didn’t know who they were, and that was why I was such a crappy regional tabloid reporter! I was clueless; used to have to ask the photographers all the time… ‘er, which one’s Zara Phillips/Steven Gerrard/Robbie Fowler…?’
    I knew who Louise Rednapp was. She was unusual because she was like a little doll; far prettier in real life.
    We got into some terrible trouble over celebs though. They were far more hassle than they were worth inmy opinon!

  28. Ooooh, is this time to share celeb memories? It’s better not to know they’re celebs; then you can be a normal human and treat them like normal humans. I telephone interviewed Dawn Upshaw once and that was terrifying. When I was much younger I had to decide about getting naked and sharing a hot tub with Jackson Browne and a number of his circle. I watched from the sidelines, fully clothed.

  30. How intriguing Jaime.
    I haven’t met any celebrities except a few authors on my writers course.

  32. All that Suzzanne Vega takes me back to a certain holiday. And skinny dipping.

  33. Nym: authors; well don’t even mention it. I used to work for a publishing company, but that’s another story.

    Have I told you about dancing with Ernie Wise? Oops sorry, another time!

  34. And I called Bill Kenwright Phil Kenwright once. Famous theatre luvvie and owner of Everton FC. Apparently.
    He was so disgusted he cut off all communications with sports desk for a month. And I was nearly fired!

  35. I have once or twice looked after well known people or their children but can’t say who.

  36. Nym: I understand; I know some people here where I live who are quite well known, but I certainly would not want to mention them here or elsewhere. It would be a betrayal of trust.

  37. This is turning into a really fun blog. I met Andy what’s his name of the Police once too. He was trying to flog his photos around LA galleries and publishers at the time.

  38. We have Andrew Ridgely from Wham and Ray from the Kinks…I should know his sirename, I used to drink with him, but I have a really DITSY brain at the moment, living in the villiage. Also have Jasper Carrot around alot, his brother owns one of our hotels, he is a really lovely chap but, and we have had many celebs here, the loveliest was Rolf Harris-met him when I was working at the other beach cafe, not the one mentioned earlier, and he genuinely seems to love people and even though he was down on the beach for the day, he met and talked to everyone who wanted to talk to him.
    Just so you know the names of the others that I have met: Catherine Zeta Jones and Sean Pertwee, the filmed a movie in the villiage and used to come drinking with all of the locals, Norris McWhirter-he really could recall all of those facts. Nicholas Witchell, when the Queen was doing her tour-was working in a cafe in Truro at the time and the BBC used our staff room as their base for the day-he was very short and ginger, I recall-not that there is anything wrong with Ginger people, I love the colour of their hair. The list does go on, but I really can’t think straight right now…..it must be all of the herbal tea.
    😛

    xxx

  40. Yes, it’s so naughty to post these little encounters … but really dangereux if they’re your boss or your next-door neighbor!

  41. Tenous link:

    Location: The garage where a friend of mine worked at the weekend, where I used to ride out to on my bike for something to do – you know buy a Mars Bar chat to M.
    Situation:I remember being there once when M had to go out and serve this bloke.He came back inall excited. “Did you see who it was? It was Robert Plant. Wow.”
    Reaction: I let the side down by not knowing who Robert Plant was anyway.

  42. Kate: Andrew Witchell: really?

    I met him at a Royal Television Society thingy at the Grosvenor House. I was dumped, somewhat unceremoniously on the BBC table and being me, I asked him what he did for a living. I really didn’t recognise him. He was not amused! Not one of my best moments.

  43. God Kate your celebs are better than mine…huh.
    Pseu; you put me to shame luv! We had no shame at the newspaper though; we would follow them around and turn up on doorsteps if necessary. We told everyone in SOuthport that Samuel L Jackson was looking for a house to rent – and so could they please ring this 0845 number if interested…

  45. Ara; that’s exactly the sort of reaction that nearly got me fired countless of times. The ‘er, I know you…but who are you again…?’
    Ernie Wise; Spill please. YOu can’t libel a dead person you know…

  46. Yup, we’re rapidly heading for the my-gynecologist-is-the-same-one-as-Bianca’s-and-Jerry’s territory. Even more fun! Too bad they don’t serve drinks at Bearsy’s Cave!

    I have no idea who Robert Plant is either.

  50. Jaime; some singer blokey? Led Zeppelin?
    They’ve been rehashing LEd Zeppelin on Radio 1 lately.
    Yes, it is getting a bit ‘spill the dirt’ isn’t it?!
    Those are the best blogs.

  53. Nicholas Withcell-please don’t ask me to spell it correctly, my brain really is mush.

    I know that we live nowhere near a busy city, but we do get them down here…the best thing for them about St Agnes is the fact that we will not allow ourselves as to be star struck-no good for those that need their ego filling, but great for retreats.

    Can I just add : Mariella Frostrup, Phil Mitchell-can’t remember his real name, he lives in Falmouth, old hat that one, grrr, whats wrong with my brain, I can’t think of their names!!

    xxx

  54. “whatsis name Attenborough nature bloke – couldn’t keep his hands off,” David? Really? how my image of him has been altered by those few words.

  55. Claire: oh dear, I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t started this, but here goes.

    I was actually dancing with Robin Day. I had asked him for a dance as a dare, and then my zip broke and Ernie Wise tried to help and trod on my toe in the general chaos that ensued.

    Er, to cut a long story short, I ended up on the BBC table as a result, and that’s how I came to upset Nicholas Witchell.

    I think I had better stop now.

  59. Bearsy: I suppose, she says philosophically, that there are better places to have a wardrobe malfunction but…. why not make a splash!

  61. Sounds like the subject of an entirely new blog, the zip stuck one. I’d better stop there!

  67. God, you had me going there.
    Sounds quite nice though. In a sort of madame in the boudoir way.
    Right I will shut up now! 🙂

  68. Not to be outdone.

    I dated Paul Neagu (who he I hear?) and cooked a curry for Lady Antonia Frazer.

  71. Very good Bilby! Did she like it?
    I was supposed to be ironing. Not talking about Ernie Wise and Antonia Frazer and Liberty Bodice.

  73. They sound nice! THanks Jaime. Actually I’m sure Trinny and Susannah were advocating something similar a couple of years ago.
    I quite fancy one now.

  76. Shame…
    Ah well. We could go on all night digging up dirt on celebs I suppose…

  77. We could indeed Claire, and do continue. It has been great fun.

    I really didn’t think this would be of such interest; but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it; so thank you all.

  78. In re celebrities, all I can offer is JRR Tolkien, being rude to Billy Connolly, Barry John, my wife kicking PC Brown on the shin for missing a last minute penalty against Wales which would have won us the game, Ian Cuthbertson, Jeremy Thorpe, Enoch Powell, Maggie T (who didn’t speak to any of us even if some of us had driven 400 miles to meet her), the blasted Heath and Gordon Brown.

    I now feel that I have wasted my life. Thanks for that, Ara.

    On the plus side, Mrs M. assures me that your boy Vickers was one of the best in his time.

  79. PS: Bearsy, could I ask you to look at the title of this post? I mean the punctuation. There is something not quite right about it. It doesn’t quite convey the meaning.

    Please, and thanking you in anticipation.

    Done me best, Ma’am.

  80. Aha; not bad, Mr Mackie. Nothing of which to be ashamed. 😉 Well, frankly I don’t feel that your life has been entirely in vain. So…..

    Please convey my heartfelt thanks to Mrs M; she is a star!

  81. Pretty impressive, John. I know only minor celebs. Do you know Richard Demarco, who didn’t impress me at all, but is known in your part of the world?

  83. Oh, and I forgot. Iain Duncan Smith. I chased him with a photographer all over Wirral once. He was very understanding when we caught him!

  84. You are right, Bearsy; I was and I am! I shouldn’t be wasting good gardening weather either, so I’ll reluctantly tear myself from the PC and catch you later. Oh, it’s clouding over; it’ll probably rain soon!

    Claire: how could you have forgotten IDS?

  85. IDS?
    Oh he was lovely actually. Even if I did chase him all over town a bit.
    We interviewed him in the pissing rain and a howling gale at the docks in Birkenhead – I had my trademark red brolly and matching mini skirt if I recall. The same as I used to wear for death knocks and door knocks; how appropriate! It was in the days after the collapse of some big ship contract and the closure of Cammell Laird.
    He promised that the next Tory government would restore military shipbuilding to Merseyside.

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