Nureyev.

I was listening to a BBC radio play recently where the hero visited Covent Garden to see Nureyey and Fonteyn, and it reminded me of a chance encounter.

In around 1966-67 I was dealing in antiques in London's Chelsea. In those days, and in that location, you really never knew who you would meet next. 'Celebs' were thick on the ground.

So I wasn't really surprised when one morning in walked Rudolf Nureyev.

He was a stunning sight. Exceptionally handsome in his very camp style, and dressed almost from head to foot in fur. The photo above was NOT his outfit at the time, but it was the only one I could find of anything similar. The hat looks the same.

Knowing our local Fox population as I do, I would suggest that his hat and coat were of Fox fur; they were certainly of that type and colour. He also wore soft pale leather, knee high, boots that were trimmed with the same fur around the tops. He stood out from the crowd like a sore thumb.

He looked around my offerings (mostly early European polychromed wood carving), and handled a few appreciatively. We didn't speak, other than a polite 'good morning'. Then he was gone. He was by himself, and in those days no-one pestered for autographs, etc.  

I have never been to the Ballet, and I regret this. Some of the world's better Ballet companies do visit Brighton, so there's still time. I can, of course, no longer see Nureyev, but there are plenty of others who possibly come close to his genius.

In the mid-to-late 60's in central London, you could stand still for ten minutes and see dozens of well-known faces. You probably couldn't do that today!