My Birthday Dinner

In the mid-'60s I used to have an off and on relationship with a gentlemen named Bob Wing who was about 20 years older than I. He Managed one of Victor Value's supermarkets, in South London when I met him. They were later taken over by Tesco's. On one occasion after giving me a beautiful gold bracelet as a birthday gift he treated me to a surprise dinner at Ricky Renés nightclub which was quite famous at that time. I was so excited at this I threw my arms around him and gave him a big hug.

Ricki sang and gave a cabaret act in his West End club that was very similar, but more risque, to that of the female impersonator Danny la Rue. This photograph was taken on that evening by the club photographer and bought for me by one of the party. Click on it to obtain a larger view. Unfortunately the photographer included the two couples at the table in front of ours. From left to right. Eddie Brownlow and his partner Charles Sawyer who later became a Depot Manager for the Dunlop Tyre Company.
They are both senior citizens now and live together in Worthing, Sussex. Next there is the lovely girl, Susan who had quite a crush on me at this time. You can tell I was fond of her by my possessive cuddle and the big smile. Unfortunately she got married to a Welsh man the following year and shortly afterwards committed suicide. To the right sitting beside my benefactor Bob Wing is Iris. She had worked for Bob for many years eventually being promoted to assistant manager. In fact Bob had Iris so well organised that he only went into work 3 or 4 hours each day himself.