Episode 88… A Social Invitation…
The palatial grand building that was Lloyds Bank and set squarely and most regally on the northern entry to London’s Bayswater, was hosted by a very helpful and thoughtful, Mr. Friendly, a name, thought Charles, to be well suited in the man’s disposition. They were well accustomed to each other, as local Bank’s are, and considered themselves to be somewhat of friends. John Friendly was older in years than Charles, but that was of no matter, an unstinting man in his financial support for what he considered was a good business risk for the bank.
‘You have always made good returns on your account Charles.’ he stated quite openly. They sat within a panelled office and he poured a small glass of dry Sherry and offered it to his client. ‘I imagine this is not just a social visit Charles. I imagine you need my support, to expand perhaps, then you know you have my full support.’
‘That’s wonderful John. Look, we must get together for an evening meal. I would like to bring you over to The Kings Head, It’s rumoured, they now have an excellent Angus fillet steak to offer, along with some fine Scottish malts, and do please bring Lidia, we would all love to see her again.’
Lidia was John’s daughter, this competent man, had lost his wife two years before, in the terrible outbreak of TB that threatened a nation. In those dark days, Charles had stood by a graveside with a complete loss of reason, like all others, that mourned that day, for a very special person, in those middle years of her life.
With John’s support, Charles found much of what was needed from Wallace Heaton of Bond Street. A progressive photographic retailer who prided on stocking the latest developments of that particular industry. A colour enlarger, complete with its drawer of primary colour filters, and much of the powdered chemicals for picture production. This was all duly installed in the brick outhouse darkroom at the back of the premises in Bayswater and was much to Gabby’s delight.
