I had stopped driving and had been recruited by the boss to be his Controller. This meant to taking the calls and marrying them up with the drivers and the jobs.
It was 1977 or 78. I got a call from Eric Clapton to pick up a package from an address in the west end of London. I was asked to do it myself because there was a need for integrity. I should go to this address with a nondescript vehicle go to the top of the stairs and knock. I would be given a package to take to Eric at his home, which of course I knew.
I knocked at the top of the stairs and was let into a small jewellery "factory" for want of another word. A man was working on a gold necklace. It was a group of 18 milk churns connected by chain in 18 carat gold for an 18th birthday. It really was a magnificent work of art. Each milk churn had a twist of ivy coiled around it. The necklace was stunning. He had not quite finished making it so I stayed and chatted with him as he worked.
I asked him how he could work with so much value around him in a place which was so unguarded. He said to me "you were vetted before you were given this address?" I told him yes in a sense. He said "did you expect to find this?" I said "no" he said "there you have it, discretion. To make this place thief proof would be more trouble than it would be worth". Anyway, the necklace was put into a paper bag and then into a white plastic bag such as you get at a supermarket. I drove to Eric's place in a Morris 1100. You can't get more nondescript than that….!!
Eric said thank you and mentioned that it was for his girlfriend's 18th birthday. I left.
Bill.
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