“Dream Man" May Be On Hire

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 2

“Dream Man" May Be On Hire

I By ZALIA THOMAS I LONDON, August 21. If you should come to Britain and meet your “dream man,” complete with Rolls Royce and a country seat, beware. It is possible that things may not be all they seem. With the hiring business reaching a nev high in Britain. all this, and more, maybe borrowed—for a fee. You could be met at the airport by a chauffeur-driven car and taken to a magnificent countrv home, there to be attended to by a butler and footmen. be greeted by your host dressed in full shooting gear, complete with 12-bore gun (three guineas a week) and

even a dog; dine at a table set with delicate china and an abundance of silver; all of which could be on hire. If you are impressed by the antlers on the wall and the tiger skin rug (10s and 30s a week respectively) the ornamental fountain surrounded by flowers, plus a swimming pool, think again. All may belong to someone else. If, on further acquaintance, your host suggests a holiday at his villa in Majorca, even this may have been arranged at a cost of £5 a person a week. And if he wants toj show you London from a different view, he can hire a! helicopter-fo'r-twc for only £55 a day. He can also arrange for you to arrive at a special function by carriage-and-pair, costing £l6 for a half day.

He may even lend you a camera to picture all these exciting things, and this will set him back £2 a day (cine camera £3 10s). On the other hand, your “dream man” may really own all these things and it may be you who needs to “put on a good front” Here your best friend is Louis Young who will lend you a “special occasion” dress, complete with all accessories, at a cost of from seven to 13 guineas. For the added touch of hauteur another firm [offers lorgnettes for 5s a I week and fans for 10s. i If you wish to make a really [big impression and can “borrow” a friend’s back garden, you may hire a marquee complete with dance floor from £l5-£lOOO and you can even herald your guests with trumpeters (four guineas each).

You will, of course, be wearing a tiara (10s 6d) and possibly sporting an elaborate wig (two guineas an evening). If, however, you decide to entertain in your own flat you can hire ? genuine Regency table to seat up to 15 people for about £6 a day and a butler will serve you for three and a half hours for two and a half guineas. Another firm will hire you a portable bar and ice buckets, and yet another, original oil paintings (even a suit of armour if you feel it's not going a bit too far). As a special treat you could take your guests for a trip on a barge, down the canal for £7 a day. If ail this is not enough to complete your day, you can also arrange for a handsome escort for eight guineas, plus his expenses.