Feest Isolation Days –12 February 2021
This morning by happenstance, I heard the book of the week being read on BBC Radio 4. It’s called “Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell” by John Preston. The BBC says “Henry Goodman reads this jaw-dropping life story of the notorious business tycoon and newspaper owner, Robert Maxwell, from birth to his mysterious death at sea.” All five episodes are available from today on BBC Sounds. It is a fascinating insight into the man.
I was a small cog in the Maxwell organisation for a brief time. One of his companies bought an arts magazine that was published with the support of the Arts Council. It was a glossy high spec monthly that was meant to replace the Arts Council listings sheets in the South West. I was lured away from my job as Managing Director of a Free Newspaper to establish the magazine with a view to eventually making it a national glossy. The job combined my love of the arts with my experience of print publishing and seemed the ideal next step. The position came with a company car. It didn’t take long to learn that Mr. Maxwell was a total control freak. My company car couldn’t be ordered until he signed it off personally. That took about six months. In the meantime, the company paid for a hire car for me on a weekly basis.
His son, Kevin Maxwell, was the head honcho of the project and several months after working there I was told I needed to meet with him. There was no agenda other than I needed to meet him in London at his office. On the morning of our meeting, I met a friend who had just flown in from New York and brought me a present of Hershey’s kisses. These silver foil wrapped sweets aren’t shaped like kisses but instead take the shape of the street lights in Hershey Pennsylvania. I digress.
Kevin kept me waiting for ages and I had the bag of sweets in my hand when I was finally ushered into his office. After I shook his hand, I asked him if he’d like a kiss. After a perfect actors beat, I shook the bag of Hershey’s at him, pointing it in his direction. I can’t remember if he took one or not. The meeting didn’t last long and I never saw him again. The job didn’t last long either. It was a dreadful company to work for, and I was dropped when they decided to amalgamate the magazine with another local glossy.
Listening to the story of Maxwell, I felt sorry for his wife and his kids. He was a sad man, a gambler and no matter what he did, he didn’t ever seem to be enough for himself. Shame. What a life. He was in a prison of his own making, and he could only find one way out.
Sunday is Valentine’s Day! Have a wonderful and heart filled day filled with love. Lockdown Valentine’s Day here we come….
Stay safe and enjoy!
With love,
Kathy x