Interest in the Project was extremely slow, as expected, over the festive season and the threat of a double dip recession seems to have lengthened pockets but shortened arms. We have been attempting to get the attention of Rick Stein for some time – he being a close friend of Keith while making TV programmes – but as yet have had no personal response. It would appear that celebrities are very well insulated from us mortals by their P.A.s. The teams behind Jamie Oliver and Heston Blumenthal have both offered items for sale at auction - perhaps we should have an auction.
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| Holiday job in Wiveliscombe |
However, I am very pleased to say that we are now in contact with Keith Floyd’s sister, Brenda Harding, his brother-in-law Edward and nephew Matthew and they promise to be a fund of new information as well as bringing genuine energetic support for the KFMP. Interestingly, it transpires that Brenda worked with the crone of the kitchen Fanny Craddock and that Matthew, Brenda’s son, is reputed to be a fine cook. Genes at work perhaps? Edward has kindly sent me some previously unpublished photographs of Keith - two of which I include, with his permission, in this post – and as Keith was not a hoarder of memorabilia himself, these pictures add substance to the stories in his first autobiography ‘Out Of The Frying Pan’.
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| North Sea crossing |
Other news.
Langan’s restaurants have jumped on board and made a donation.
The first maquette has been sold, which is encouraging, adding a reasonable sum to the Project fund.
