Portmeirion And Brian Epstein
In 'The Chimes of Big Ben' Number 2 introduces Number 6 as their very own Epstein.
August 1966 Brian Epstein {a different Epstein of course} was recovering from a very serious bout of glandular fever. His doctor prescribed a quiet vacation to convalesce, "He went by himself to a luxury hotel in Portmeirion on the North West coast of Wales that overlooked the Sea, and wind-swept beach, as remote a place as you could get from London. Everyone’s advice was the same, try not to worry." He had been there only four days when uproar occurred in parts of America
This was not Brian Epstein's only visit to Portmeirion. Apparently he used to stay in Gatehouse cottage, which in those days was much smaller than it is today. Brian said to Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, architect and creator of Portmeirion, that what the cottage needed was a dining room. Consequently Sir Clough built one, but in my opinion it is rather large and ostentatious for such a small cottage.
If Brian Epstein had not have had to cut his stay in Portmeirion short, having had to leave, and had he still been there in early September 1966........... Well who knows.
Be seeing you
An interesting thought! Noel Coward also wrote Blythe Spirit in Portmeirion and I recall illustrating a couple of strips for the 'Buster Comic' from a high level overlooking the Gloriette!
ReplyDeleteI loved your anecdote about the way Max Hora felt about his customers. He was quite a character and understandably had more time for his cats. I often enjoyed his company over a meal in Hercule's Hall. How shop assistant Liz Caldwell put up with him I'll never know. She even used to do his laundry!
When I took the walking tour of Pormeirion last October, the guide told us Brian Epstein requested a larger closet for the Gatehouse cottage...anybody else heard that info? I'm a U.S. Prisoner, fan so I don't make it to Portmeirion very often. But, following no. 6's skepticism, I try not to believe everything I hear,...
ReplyDelete"Questions are a burden to others - answers, a prison for one's self."
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