Alan Mair, who employed Freddie Mercury to work at his stall upstairs at Kensington Market has drawn this map of the market that gives a really good sense of how the different shop units related to each other. The market closed several years ago and there are remarkably few photos of it as it was in the early 70s (or indeed later). If anyone has any please let me know!!
Freddie worked at the market between 1969 and 1974, most of that time working for Alan, but for a while running his own stall with Roger Taylor. Their stall was about 10ft by 10ft.
Pat and Sue Johnstone who were originally Rogers friends from Truro, have explained to me that they first set up the Queen fan club whilst working in their own shop-unit which I believe was near Alan's...will need to clarify this. (nb its a bit misrepresentative to call them stalls because they were rooms with fairly solid plaster walls between them - so more like an old fashioned arcade or modern mall)
I remember the market stall and chatting with Freddie, Roger and Mary there - must've been in the summer of 1973, just before the the release of the 'Queen' album - Roger was telling me all about it. Freddie's original B&W artwork for the Queen Crest was pinned up on the wall - I asked if I could buy it but they were horrified - wouldn't sell.. I also read a fair bit of Freddie's Art School thesis that they WERE trying to sell. (I found it really interesting and was quite tempted to buy it.) Then someone started to joke about how I mustn't buy Freddie's jacket, and they all fell about laughing - I didn't understand, but I do now, having heard the story behind it..
ReplyDeleteSaw Freddie again on my way out, closing up the shutter of the leather jackets stall so stopped and chatted again, briefly. I believe he said he was working there 6 or 6 1/2 days a week, because he needed the money. He seemed to want to talk some more, but for reasons I may never quite remember, or understand, I walked away. He was so sweet and a little shy, away from his friends. I thought he was completely adorable, if a little decadent with his black Biba nail polish - like something from a Aubrey Beardsley drawing. :-)
Oh my God, I couldn't be anymore thrilled & so very thankful for you sharing this precious story of yours with us all!!! I hope you know just how lucky you are to have experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity to chat & basically hang out with the 2 (then very young) members of Queen! God, I'd absolutely LOVE to hear more details of this incredible encounter! That is if you can remember anything else from it, or honestly if you'd like to just express anymore of your thoughts/feelings about the memory, that'd be great too!!! Especially about Freddie, which whom I've become incredibly obsessed with lately, haha! I also have a couple of questions if you wouldn't mind answering :) like about how you ended up in their stall at Kensington in the first place!? Did you buy anything from them, like clothes or any of Freddie's paintings?
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ReplyDeleteHi Aubree,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely response.
I'd be happy to try and answer any questions you have, but not here on this public forum (and in these cramped little boxes..!).
I can't see a way to PM here; I wonder if you'd feel comfortable about posting your email address here so we could communicate that way? If you did do that, I'd reply as soon as I see it and then you could delete it.
Banksia M
:-)
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DeleteOK, I've got it, thanks. It might take me a while to respond, but I'll try and answer those last 2 questions first and then see what happens... :-)
DeleteHelloooo there! I'm so sorry, I don't want to come across as rude or annoying, but I was just wondering if you were still interested in talking with me through email? I know you said it would take you a while to respond to me, which is perfectly understandable! I know that things can come up & life can get in the way, so I understand that it takes a while to email me or if you forgot to, haha! But I just wanted to express that I wasn't kidding when I said I have been obsessed with Freddie/Queen! & I'm not sure if you are aware, but this beautiful story of yours is a HUGE deal since there is barely ANY information or stories of the band's early years (the very late 60's through very early 70's) & to be completely honest with you, I am so very anxious & excited to find out more about this extraordinary memory that you have been so very lucky to have stored in your mind! I'm so, so sorry to bug you, I really am... but like I said, I'm just overly excited to find out more my dear! & again, the very LAST thing I want to be is rude or annoying, especially since I have the ultimate privilege of you agreeing to share your experience meeting & talking to Freddie with me! You had every right to tell me, "no, f*** off!" or to have never responded to me at all! But you did. & it means the entire world to me!!!
DeleteSo I hope that me writing you again won't offend you. I'm just a very crazed fan wanting to find out as much as she possibly can about her idol that she sadly never got to meet, let alone wasn't even alive when he was...
Anyway, I hope all is well with you & that you have an understanding about how I feel. I'm really looking forward to talking to you! <3 (that is if you still want to, haha)
Hey - it's coming - truly! Just dealing with a lot of other stuff. It will be long and detailed, so please be patient! Hopefully it'll be worth the wait...
DeleteYou are the sweetest!! I do apologize for being so anxious, I'm just so excited! But of course you know that by now, ha!
DeleteBut on a more personal note: I hope you & your loved ones are doing okay & are safe wherever you are during these troubled times ♥️
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